Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
यशसे च तथा संख्या वाहनाद्यैः सहस्रिका । मुक्तिकामोर्चयेच्छंभुं पंचकोट्या सुभक्तितः
yaśase ca tathā saṃkhyā vāhanādyaiḥ sahasrikā | muktikāmorcayecchaṃbhuṃ paṃcakoṭyā subhaktitaḥ
Pour la renommée — et de même pour l’abondance et la prospérité, avec des milliers de véhicules et autres biens — celui qui aspire à la délivrance doit adorer Śambhu avec une dévotion excellente, en offrant le culte au nombre de cinq koṭi (cinq crores).
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Explicitly ranks mukti above fame and prosperity; five-crore worship with subhakti signals that liberation is not merely transactional but depends on devotion aligned with Śiva’s grace (anugraha).
Mantra: (Implied) oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that while worldly gains like fame and prosperity may arise from worship, the highest intent is mukti; liberation is approached through sustained, excellent devotion to Śambhu.
The verse points to arcanā (ritual worship) of Śambhu—classically performed toward the Śiva-liṅga as Saguna Shiva—where devotion purifies the soul and directs it toward the grace of Pati (Shiva).
It recommends committed Śiva-arcanā in large measure (a vast count such as repeated offerings/japa over time), emphasizing steady bhakti as the practical discipline for both purification and liberation.