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Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 73

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

विज्ञानस्य च सन्मूलं भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी । ज्ञानस्यापि च सन्मूलं भक्तिरेवाऽभिधीयते

vijñānasya ca sanmūlaṃ bhaktiravyabhicāriṇī | jñānasyāpi ca sanmūlaṃ bhaktirevā'bhidhīyate

Als wahre Wurzel von vijñāna (verwirklichter Weisheit) wird die unabweichende, unerschütterliche Bhakti, die Hingabe, verkündet. Und auch die wahre Wurzel von jñāna (geistigem Wissen) heißt: Bhakti allein.

vijñānasyaof vijñāna (realized knowledge)
vijñānasya:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootvijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग, neuter), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी, genitive), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)
sat-mūlamtrue foundation
sat-mūlam:
Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootsat (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); samāsa: tatpurūṣa—‘good/true root, proper foundation’
bhaktiḥdevotion
bhaktiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) / Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण) with sat-mūlam
TypeNoun
Rootbhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)
avyabhicāriṇīunfailing/undeviating
avyabhicāriṇī:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bhaktiḥ
TypeAdjective
Roota- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + vyabhicārin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); adjective agreeing with bhaktiḥ
jñānasyaof knowledge (jñāna)
jñānasya:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootjñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)
apialso
api:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)
sat-mūlamtrue foundation
sat-mūlam:
Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootsat (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)
bhaktiḥdevotion
bhaktiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) / Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण) with sat-mūlam
TypeNoun
Rootbhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)
evaalone/indeed
eva:
Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; particle (निपात) of emphasis/limitation
abhidhīyateis called/said
abhidhīyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi-√dhā (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Karmaṇi-prayoga (कर्मणि प्रयोग, passive), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal verse: establishes bhakti (avyabhicāriṇī) as the root-cause for both jñāna and vijñāna—aligning with Siddhānta’s emphasis on Śiva’s grace accessed through devotion.

Significance: General: cultivates ekānta-bhakti as the sure foundation for liberating knowledge.

Role: liberating

S
Shiva

FAQs

It teaches that both scriptural knowledge (jñāna) and lived realization (vijñāna) become authentic only when rooted in unwavering bhakti to Lord Shiva—devotion that attracts Shiva’s grace and stabilizes true discernment.

Linga and Saguna Shiva worship train the mind in steady, exclusive devotion (avyabhicāriṇī bhakti). Through consistent pūjā, japa, and remembrance, devotion matures into inner knowledge and direct realization of Shiva’s presence.

Single-pointed bhakti can be practiced through daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Linga-abhiṣeka, and disciplined sādhana such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—performed with unwavering intent rather than mere formality.