Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 67
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
यथा स्वविषये राजा सारं गृह्णाति यत्करम् । यथा मनुष्याः सस्यादीन्दग्ध्वा सारं भजंति वै
yathā svaviṣaye rājā sāraṃ gṛhṇāti yatkaram | yathā manuṣyāḥ sasyādīndagdhvā sāraṃ bhajaṃti vai
De même qu’un roi, dans son propre royaume, prélève l’impôt dû comme part essentielle, et de même que les hommes, après avoir brûlé les récoltes et autres choses, n’en retiennent que l’essence, ainsi le sage doit saisir la vérité essentielle—Śiva—en laissant de côté ce qui n’est pas essentiel.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches sāra-grahaṇa—taking the essence: the seeker should discard the husk of distractions and hold to Śiva, the highest reality and the liberating refuge (Pati) in Shaiva understanding.
Liṅga-worship is a practical way to hold the ‘essence’ in a tangible focus: through Saguna devotion the mind is gathered, and the devotee steadily approaches the essential truth of Śiva beyond superficial rituals.
Single-pointed japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a sāttvika, simplified discipline (optionally with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) to keep only what supports Śiva-smaraṇa.