Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
शर्वलिङ्गार्चनादेव देवा दैत्याश्च सत्तमाः । अहं त्वं च तथा ब्रह्मन्कथं तद्विस्मृतं त्वया
śarvaliṅgārcanādeva devā daityāśca sattamāḥ | ahaṃ tvaṃ ca tathā brahmankathaṃ tadvismṛtaṃ tvayā
Par la seule adoration du Liṅga de Śarva, ô le meilleur des êtres, même les Devas et les Daityas atteignirent l’accomplissement qui leur était destiné ; et moi comme toi, ô Brahman. Comment donc as-tu pu l’oublier ?
Vishnu (in dialogue addressing Brahma within the Sṛṣṭi narrative of the Rudra Saṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a single jyotirliṅga episode; rather a doctrinal claim that liṅga-arcana grants siddhi/fulfillment even to opposing cosmic parties (Devas/Daityas), underscoring Śiva’s impartial lordship and grace.
Significance: Frames liṅga-worship as universally efficacious across varṇa/species/party; remembrance of this principle is itself a safeguard against forgetfulness (vismṛti) born of Māyā.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse asserts that Śiva, as Pati (the Supreme Lord), grants fruition and liberation through sincere Liṅga-arcana; even powerful cosmic beings succeed only by turning to Śiva’s grace, highlighting bhakti as a direct means to spiritual fulfillment.
It presents the Liṅga as the accessible saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent nirguna Śiva; worship of the Liṅga becomes the practical doorway to Śiva’s supreme reality and blessings.
Regular Liṅga pūjā (arcana)—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as the core practice that leads to auspicious results and inner purification.