Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20
अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance
त्यक्त्वा परस्परस्पर्धां मैत्रीं च परमां गतः । सह तेनाप्सरोभिश्च गन्धर्वैश्च समावृतः
tyaktvā parasparaspardhāṃ maitrīṃ ca paramāṃ gataḥ | saha tenāpsarobhiśca gandharvaiśca samāvṛtaḥ
Ayant rejeté toute rivalité réciproque, il parvint à l’amitié la plus haute; et, avec lui, Nārada fut entouré d’apsarās et de gandharvas.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse teaches that abandoning competitive hostility (spardhā) and establishing maitrī (noble friendship) is itself a purification of the pashu (bound soul), loosening the inner pasha (bond) of envy and leading toward sattvic harmony that supports Shaiva realization.
In Linga and Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee approaches Shiva as the compassionate Pati who dissolves inner impurities; this verse highlights a key inner offering—renouncing rivalry—so that worship becomes aligned with Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and the devotee naturally moves into concord rather than conflict.
A practical takeaway is to pair japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a daily sankalpa to abandon jealousy and cultivate maitrī; offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and simple Shiva-puja with this intention supports inner restraint and devotional steadiness.