Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 76
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
यदा चोच्चाटनं देहे जायते कारणं विना । यत्र कुत्रापि वा प्रेम दुःखं च परिवर्द्धितम्
yadā coccāṭanaṃ dehe jāyate kāraṇaṃ vinā | yatra kutrāpi vā prema duḥkhaṃ ca parivarddhitam
Lorsque, sans cause apparente, naissent dans le corps agitation et dislocation intérieure—et lorsque, en quelque lieu ou envers quelqu’un, l’attachement d’amour (premā) et la peine commencent à croître—qu’on le comprenne comme un signe porteur de sens : des forces invisibles sont à l’œuvre, appelant à prendre refuge en Śiva et à rétablir la stabilité intérieure par un culte juste.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Rudra Saṃhitā frame)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Interprets causeless inner agitation and the rise of attachment/sorrow as a prompt to seek Śiva’s refuge; frames suffering as a diagnostic sign of bondage (pāśa) and the need for right worship leading toward grace.
FAQs
It treats causeless bodily agitation and the sudden growth of attachment and sorrow as indicators of subtle bondage (pāśa) influencing the pashu (the bound soul), prompting the seeker to return to Śiva-centered steadiness through devotion and discernment.
When the mind becomes unsettled and emotions intensify, Śiva’s saguna support—especially Linga worship—serves as an anchoring practice: it gathers the scattered mind, cools distress, and reorients attachment into bhakti directed toward Śiva.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with calm breath, along with simple Linga worship using water and bhasma/Tripuṇḍra as a grounding discipline to reduce agitation and sorrow.