Shloka 5
देवगुरुप्रेषणम्
Himālaya Mission of the Gods’ Preceptor / The Gods Send Their Guru
महादेवस्य सारूप्यं लप्स्यते नात्र संशयः । तत्र भुक्त्वा वरान्भोगांस्ततो मोक्षमवाप्स्यति
mahādevasya sārūpyaṃ lapsyate nātra saṃśayaḥ | tatra bhuktvā varānbhogāṃstato mokṣamavāpsyati
He will assuredly attain sārūpya, likeness to Mahādeva—of this there is no doubt. There, having enjoyed the excellent divine pleasures bestowed by that state, he ultimately attains mokṣa, final liberation, through Śiva’s grace.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic assurance of Śiva’s grace to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Affirms Śiva’s anugraha culminating in sārūpya and then mokṣa; used as a doctrinal assurance for devotees undertaking Śiva-bhakti and vrata.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse presents Śiva’s anugraha (grace) as the decisive cause of liberation: the devotee first attains sārūpya (likeness and proximity to Śiva), experiences the fulfilled state free from worldly lack, and then reaches mokṣa—final release from bondage (pāśa).
Sārūpya is a fruit associated with saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with form (such as Liṅga worship). Through steady bhakti, purity, and Śiva’s favor, the worshipper gains Śiva-sāmīpya/sārūpya and is led onward to the highest freedom.
The takeaway is consistent Śiva-bhakti aimed at grace: daily Liṅga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and maintaining Śaiva marks like tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as supports for remembrance and discipline.