Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 16
Mukti-bheda-nirūpaṇa (Classification of Liberation) and Śiva as the Sole Bestower of Mokṣa
तत्प्राप्तिश्च भवेदत्र शिवज्ञानोदयाद्ध्रुवम् । भजनाद्वा शिवस्यैव सूक्ष्ममत्या सतां द्विजाः
tatprāptiśca bhavedatra śivajñānodayāddhruvam | bhajanādvā śivasyaiva sūkṣmamatyā satāṃ dvijāḥ
हे सत्शील द्विजो, यहाँ उस परम की प्राप्ति निश्चय ही शिव-ज्ञान के उदय से होती है; अथवा सूक्ष्म विवेकयुक्त बुद्धि से किए गए शिव-भजन से ही होती है।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that liberation (Śiva-attainment) is assured either through the awakening of true knowledge of Śiva (jñāna) or through single-minded devotion to Śiva (bhakti) supported by refined discernment.
The verse affirms bhajana (devotional worship) as a direct means of attainment; in Śaiva practice this commonly takes the form of saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā, which purifies the mind and ripens it toward Śiva-knowledge.
It points to steady Śiva-bhajana with subtle awareness—practically expressed as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside focused meditation on Śiva and disciplined worship.