Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30
नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमः
Occasional Rites and Their Procedure
शिवदर्मानसो कुर्वन्नकुर्वन्वापि मुच्यते । एकावृत्तो द्विरावृत्तस्त्रिरावृत्तो निवर्तकः
śivadarmānaso kurvannakurvanvāpi mucyate | ekāvṛtto dvirāvṛttastrirāvṛtto nivartakaḥ
Whether one actively performs the duties enjoined for a devotee of Śiva, or even if one fails to perform them, one is liberated when the mind is established in Śiva. One who turns to Him once is ‘once-returning’; one who turns twice is ‘twice-returning’; but one who turns thrice becomes a ‘non-returner’.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Emphasizes inner orientation (śivadarma-mānasa) over mere external performance; pilgrimage is perfected by mind established in Śiva, yielding ‘non-return’.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse teaches that liberation is rooted primarily in inner orientation—when the mind is established in Śiva (Pati), bondage (pāśa) loosens even if external observances are imperfect; sincere Shiva-centered consciousness is the decisive factor.
Linga/Saguṇa worship disciplines the mind toward Śiva; this verse emphasizes that such worship is ultimately meant to produce śiva-dharma-mānasa—steady Shiva-remembrance—through which the devotee transcends repeated return to saṃsāra.
The practical takeaway is consistent Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Shaiva observances (bhasma/tripuṇḍra, rudrākṣa, and daily Linga-pūjā) to stabilize the mind in Śiva.