Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
दक्षयज्ञे मुनिदेवसमागमः / The Gathering of Sages and Gods at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
यस्य स्मृत्या च नामोक्त्या समग्रं सुकृतं भवेत् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन ह्यानेतव्यो वृषध्वजः
yasya smṛtyā ca nāmoktyā samagraṃ sukṛtaṃ bhavet | tasmātsarvaprayatnena hyānetavyo vṛṣadhvajaḥ
Par le seul souvenir de Lui et la seule profération de Son Nom, tout le trésor du mérite devient accompli. C’est pourquoi, avec tous les efforts possibles, il faut vraiment inviter et accueillir Vṛṣadhvaja—Śiva, le Seigneur dont l’étendard porte le taureau.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Articulates nāma-smaraṇa as a direct means to accrue sukṛta and approach Śiva; pilgrimage analogue: even before reaching a kṣetra, remembrance/utterance sanctifies the pilgrim and ‘completes’ merit.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva’s grace is accessed through bhakti—simple remembrance (smaraṇa) and name-utterance (nāma-japa)—which can perfect one’s spiritual merit and turn the mind toward liberation under Pati (Śiva), the Lord of souls.
“Bring Vṛṣadhvaja” implies inviting Saguna Śiva into worship—commonly through liṅga-pūjā, mantra, and devotional invocation—so the devotee’s inner remembrance is supported by an outward sacred focus.
Practice daily Śiva-smaraṇa and nāma-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and ritually “invite” Śiva at the start of worship (āvāhana) during liṅga-pūjā, particularly on Mahāśivarātri.