Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
प्रीतोहं युवयोस्सम्यग्वरं दद्यां यथेप्सितम् । मयि भक्तिर्दृढा भूयाद्युवयोरभ्यनुज्ञया
prītohaṃ yuvayossamyagvaraṃ dadyāṃ yathepsitam | mayi bhaktirdṛḍhā bhūyādyuvayorabhyanujñayā
Wahrlich, Ich bin mit euch beiden zufrieden. Ich werde euch eine Gabe gewähren, genau wie ihr sie wünscht. Mit eurer Zustimmung möge die standhafte Hingabe an Mich in euch immer mehr erstarken.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Boon-bestowal frame: Śiva, pleased, offers desired boons and explicitly blesses the growth of firm bhakti—grace (anugraha) as the decisive factor in spiritual fruition.
Significance: Highlights that the highest ‘boon’ is dṛḍha-bhakti itself; encourages devotees to seek not only worldly results but stabilizing devotion leading toward liberation.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse shows that Shiva’s highest gift is not merely a worldly boon, but unwavering devotion (dṛḍha-bhakti), which ripens the soul toward liberation under the Lord’s grace.
It affirms Saguna Shiva’s compassionate accessibility: the devotee approaches the Lord through worship (often centered on the Liṅga), and Shiva responds personally by granting blessings and deepening bhakti.
A practical takeaway is to pray for dṛḍha-bhakti while performing daily Shiva-pūjā—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a devotional vow (saṅkalpa) that one’s devotion become steady.