Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58
नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion
यस्या साधारणी शंभौ भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी । तस्यैव मोक्षस्सुलभो नास्येतिन्य मतिर्मम
yasyā sādhāraṇī śaṃbhau bhaktiravyabhicāriṇī | tasyaiva mokṣassulabho nāsyetinya matirmama
Wessen Bhakti zu Śambhu schlicht, standhaft und niemals abirrend ist, dem ist Mokṣa wahrlich leicht erreichbar. Das ist meine feste Überzeugung—eine andere Ansicht habe ich nicht.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the teaching within the Rudra Saṃhitā to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a site legend; it states the soteriological thesis: steady, non-deviating devotion to Śambhu makes mokṣa ‘easy’—i.e., accessible through grace rather than mere self-effort.
Significance: General: establishes bhakti as the direct means to liberation when it is unwavering and oriented solely to Śiva.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It declares that moksha is not distant for a seeker who maintains unwavering, non-deviating devotion to Śiva; steadfast bhakti itself becomes the direct means to grace and liberation in a Shaiva understanding.
“Śambhu” indicates the personally worshippable Lord (Saguna Śiva) who is approached through forms like the Śiva-liṅga; consistent devotion to that manifest focus steadies the mind and invites Śiva’s anugraha (grace), culminating in liberation.
The practical takeaway is daily, unwavering Śiva-bhakti—regular liṅga-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a steady vow-like consistency, rather than occasional or distracted worship.