Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
जानामि धर्मं न च मे प्रवृत्तिर्जानाम्यधर्मं न च मे निवृत्तिः । त्वया महादेव हृदिस्थितेन यथा नियुक्तोऽस्मि तथा करोमि
jānāmi dharmaṃ na ca me pravṛttirjānāmyadharmaṃ na ca me nivṛttiḥ | tvayā mahādeva hṛdisthitena yathā niyukto'smi tathā karomi
Ich kenne das Dharma, doch finde ich in mir keinen wahren Antrieb, ihm zu folgen; ich kenne das Adharma, doch finde ich in mir keine Kraft, mich davon abzuwenden. O Mahādeva, der in meinem Herzen weilt: wie Du mich lenkst, so handle ich.
A devotee addressing Lord Shiva (Mahadeva) in supplication within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
The verse expresses the soul’s (pashu’s) limitation: mere intellectual knowledge of dharma and adharma does not guarantee the power to act rightly. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it points to the need for Shiva’s grace (anugraha), because the Lord (Pati) dwelling in the heart alone can loosen the bonds (pāśa) and turn knowledge into transforming practice.
By addressing Mahādeva as ‘hṛdistha’ (present in the heart), the verse links outer worship to inner realization: the Linga worship (saguna upāsanā) trains surrender and purity, so the devotee begins to perceive Shiva as the indwelling guide who directs one’s conduct from within.
A practical takeaway is surrender-based japa and inner offering: repeat the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating Shiva in the heart, confessing one’s weakness, and asking for right inclination (pravṛtti) and restraint (nivṛtti). This pairs well with simple Linga abhiṣeka and vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) remembrance as a daily discipline.