Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
धर्माधर्मौ जपो होमो ध्यानं ध्यानविधिस्तथा । सर्वदा निर्विकारास्ते विद्यया च तयामराः
dharmādharmau japo homo dhyānaṃ dhyānavidhistathā | sarvadā nirvikārāste vidyayā ca tayāmarāḥ
Dharma und Adharma, Japa und Homa, Meditation und die Methode der Meditation selbst—all dies bleibt stets unveränderlich; und durch jene Erkenntnis werden sie unsterblich.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
Offering: homa
FAQs
It teaches that ethical action, ritual, and meditation attain their highest meaning when grounded in vidyā (true liberating knowledge), through which practice becomes steady and oriented to immortality (mokṣa) under Pati, Lord Śiva.
In Shaiva practice, japa, homa, and dhyāna are commonly performed with Śiva as the chosen form (saguṇa)—often centered on the Liṅga—yet their fruition is stabilized by vidyā, which leads the devotee from form-based worship toward realization of Śiva as the changeless Reality.
The verse highlights sustained japa, homa, and dhyāna along with correct dhyāna-vidhi (method); a practical takeaway is disciplined mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) supported by regular meditation and proper ritual observance.