Shloka 12
देवस्तुतिः — Hymn of Praise by the Devas
Devastuti
विमर्षणो नृपवरस्सप्तजन्मावधि प्रभो । भुक्त्वा भोगांश्च विविधांस्त्वद्भक्त्या प्राप सद्गतिम्
vimarṣaṇo nṛpavarassaptajanmāvadhi prabho | bhuktvā bhogāṃśca vividhāṃstvadbhaktyā prāpa sadgatim
O Lord, the excellent king Vimarṣaṇa, for the span of seven births, experienced many kinds of enjoyments; yet through devotion to You he attained the true, auspicious goal—liberation in Shiva’s grace.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga narrative; it illustrates karmic continuity across births and the decisive liberating role of Śiva-bhakti culminating in ‘sadgati’.
Significance: General: encourages perseverance—devotion can mature across lifetimes and finally yield auspicious liberation.
FAQs
It teaches that even after repeated births and worldly experiences, the soul attains the highest good (sadgati) through steadfast devotion to Lord Shiva—liberation comes by Shiva’s grace rather than by pleasure or status.
The verse emphasizes tvad-bhakti—personal devotion to Shiva. In Shiva Purana practice this is commonly expressed through Saguna worship such as Linga-pūjā, where devotion purifies karma across births and culminates in Shiva’s liberating favor.
A direct takeaway is to cultivate Shiva-bhakti through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and regular Linga worship with reverence, as devotion is shown here as the decisive means to sadgati.