Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 10
अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
देवप्रियश्च तज्ज्येष्ठः प्रियमेधास्ततः परम् । तृतीयस्तु कृतो नाम धर्मवाही च सुव्रतः
devapriyaśca tajjyeṣṭhaḥ priyamedhāstataḥ param | tṛtīyastu kṛto nāma dharmavāhī ca suvrataḥ
उनमें ज्येष्ठ देवप्रिय था, उसके बाद प्रियमेधा। तीसरा कृत नामक था—आचरण में धर्मनिष्ठ, धर्म का वहन करने वाला और उत्तम व्रतों में दृढ़।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva ideal that noble birth is affirmed by noble conduct—upholding dharma and observing pure vows (suvrata), which mature the soul toward Shiva’s grace.
By praising dharma-bearing and disciplined vows, the verse points to the inner qualifications that make external worship—such as Linga-puja—fruitful and truly Shiva-centered.
It suggests vrata (disciplined observance) as a core practice—regular purity, restraint, and steady devotion, ideally supported by mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and consistent puja.