Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
अंते मुक्तिफलं चैव भक्तिं वा परमेशितुः । पूर्वपुण्यातिरेकेण तेऽर्चयंति सदाशिवम्
aṃte muktiphalaṃ caiva bhaktiṃ vā parameśituḥ | pūrvapuṇyātirekeṇa te'rcayaṃti sadāśivam
Am Ende erlangen sie die Frucht der Befreiung (mokṣa) oder aber höchste Hingabe an den Herrn. Durch die überschüssige Kraft früherer Verdienste verehren sie Sadāśiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Explicitly frames the highest telos as mukti or para-bhakti, both dependent on Śiva’s anugraha; ‘pūrvapuṇyātireka’ indicates ripening of merit that turns the soul toward Sadāśiva-worship.
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that sincere worship of Sadāśiva culminates either in moksha (liberation) or in the highest form of bhakti; both are presented as supreme ends blessed by Parameśvara, ripened through prior merit (pūrva-puṇya).
By stating that devotees “worship Sadāśiva,” the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotional worship of Shiva in an accessible form (such as the Śiva-liṅga)—as a legitimate means that matures into liberation or unwavering devotion.
The practical takeaway is steady Shiva-arcana (daily worship): offering water and bilva leaves to the liṅga, repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintaining bhakti as the core intention.