Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 64
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
प्राक्संस्कारवशादेव ये विचिंत्य फलाफले । विवशा मां प्रपद्यंते मम प्रियतमा मताः । मल्लाभान्न परो लाभस्तेषामस्ति यथातथम् । ममापि लाभस्तल्लाभान्नापरः परमेश्वरि
prāksaṃskāravaśādeva ye viciṃtya phalāphale | vivaśā māṃ prapadyaṃte mama priyatamā matāḥ | mallābhānna paro lābhasteṣāmasti yathātatham | mamāpi lābhastallābhānnāparaḥ parameśvari
Ô Parameśvarī, ceux qui—par la force des impressions sacrées antérieures—réfléchissent au gain et à la perte et, comme contraints, prennent refuge en Moi, je les tiens pour les plus aimés. Pour eux, il n’est de gain plus élevé que de M’atteindre, de quelque manière que cela advienne. Et pour Moi aussi, leur atteinte est l’unique gain : il n’en est pas d’autre.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames ‘attaining Śiva’ (mallābha) as the supreme gain; pilgrimage and worship are reinterpreted as movement from saṃskāra-driven approach to surrender (prapatti).
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that surrender to Shiva can arise from prior saṃskāras and divine grace; attaining Shiva (Pati) is the supreme profit, surpassing all worldly calculations of gain and loss, and it culminates in liberation.
Taking refuge in Shiva is commonly expressed through Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where devotion matures into śaraṇāgati; the ‘attainment of Shiva’ here points to intimate union through grace, not merely external ritual merit.
The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Linga-dhyāna; these practices align the mind so prior saṃskāras ripen into wholehearted refuge in Shiva.