Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
भावातिशयलब्धेन प्रसादेन मलक्षयः । क्षीणे चात्ममले तस्मिन् पुमाञ्च्छिवसमो भवेत्
bhāvātiśayalabdhena prasādena malakṣayaḥ | kṣīṇe cātmamale tasmin pumāñcchivasamo bhavet
By the grace (prasāda) gained through an intense elevation of devotion, the impurities (mala) are worn away. When that inner impurity is destroyed, the embodied soul becomes equal to Śiva in nature—sharing His purity and freedom—though not identical in lordship.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: General siddhāntic fruit: prasāda leading to mala-kṣaya and śiva-sāmya (liberation through grace).
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that liberation arises when Shiva’s grace—drawn by intense devotion—destroys the soul’s impurity (mala), resulting in shiva-sāmya: sharing Shiva’s purity and freedom.
Linga/Saguna Shiva worship channels devotion into concentrated bhāva; that ripened devotion invites prasāda (grace), which purifies the inner mala and leads toward liberation.
Cultivate intense bhakti through japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dhyāna on Shiva/Linga, and disciplined purity—aiming for inner mala-kṣaya rather than mere outer observance.