Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29
सर्वेश्वर-परमकारण-निरूपणम् / The Supreme Lord as the Uncaused Cause
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं परम् । शिवे भक्तिर्न सन्देहस्तया युक्तो विमुच्यते
bahunātra kimuktena guhyādguhyataraṃ param | śive bhaktirna sandehastayā yukto vimucyate
À quoi bon en dire davantage ici ? Au-delà même des enseignements les plus secrets, le secret suprême est ceci : la dévotion à Śiva — sans aucun doute. Celui qui s’unit à cette dévotion est libéré.
Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Declares bhakti to Śiva as the ‘supreme secret’ leading to mokṣa—framing pilgrimage, pūjā, and vrata as efficacious when suffused with devotion and culminating in grace.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It declares that the highest esoteric truth is not merely hidden knowledge but steadfast devotion to Śiva; when the soul (paśu) is joined to Śiva through bhakti and His grace, the bonds (pāśa) are cut and liberation results.
Bhakti to Śiva is typically cultivated through accessible Saguna forms—especially Liṅga worship, mantra, and pūjā—by which the devotee’s mind becomes one-pointed; this mature devotion becomes the direct means for Śiva’s liberating grace.
The verse points to sustained Śiva-bhakti in practice—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Liṅga-abhisheka with reverence, and meditation on Śiva as Pati—so that devotion becomes unwavering and liberation-oriented.