Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy
and Praise of Śiva
महेश उवाच । वयं भक्तपराधीना न स्वतंत्राः कदापि हि । तदिच्छया तत्कर्माणो न कस्यापि च पक्षिणः
maheśa uvāca | vayaṃ bhaktaparādhīnā na svataṃtrāḥ kadāpi hi | tadicchayā tatkarmāṇo na kasyāpi ca pakṣiṇaḥ
Mahesha dit : «Nous dépendons de nos dévots ; en vérité, nous ne sommes jamais indépendants. C’est selon leur volonté même que nous agissons, sans prendre le parti de quiconque par favoritisme».
Lord Shiva (Mahesha)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva’s grace (anugraha) is especially drawn forth by bhakti: the Lord, though supreme, willingly becomes “bound” by the love and surrender of His devotees, making liberation accessible through devotion.
In Linga and Saguna worship, the devotee approaches Shiva with form, mantra, and offerings; this verse affirms that such heartfelt devotion compels Shiva’s responsive presence, not because He is biased, but because devotion becomes the channel for His grace.
Single-pointed bhakti with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—offered with humility (and, where appropriate, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa) as a daily practice to invoke Shiva’s compassionate response.