Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
तदाज्ञप्तेन मार्गेण वर्णिनो मदुपाश्रयाः । मलमायादिपाशेभ्यो विमुक्ता मत्प्रसादतः । परं मदीयमासाद्य पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् । परमं मम साधर्म्यं प्राप्य निर्वृतिमाययुः
tadājñaptena mārgeṇa varṇino madupāśrayāḥ | malamāyādipāśebhyo vimuktā matprasādataḥ | paraṃ madīyamāsādya punarāvṛttidurlabham | paramaṃ mama sādharmyaṃ prāpya nirvṛtimāyayuḥ
Following the path enjoined by Me, the disciplined seekers who took refuge in Me were, by My grace, freed from the bonds of impurity (mala), māyā, and the rest. Reaching My supreme abode—hard to attain for those who still return again—they gained the highest likeness to My own state and entered perfect peace.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Frames liberation as Śiva’s prasāda: release from mala–māyā bonds and attainment of Śiva-sādharmya (participation in Śiva-like state).
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that liberation comes by following Shiva’s prescribed path and taking refuge in Him; by His grace the soul is released from the fetters of mala (impurity) and māyā, attains Shiva’s supreme state, and rests in final peace beyond rebirth.
Refuge in Shiva is practically expressed through devoted worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where Saguna forms and rituals become the means; through steady devotion and Shiva’s anugraha, the seeker is led to the supreme state described here.
The verse points to disciplined sādhanā under Shiva’s injunction—regular japa of Shiva-mantra (notably the Pañcākṣarī), meditation on Shiva, and steadfast surrender (śaraṇāgati) as the inner practice that culminates in grace-born release.