Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
तस्माल्लब्ध्वाप्यलब्ध्वा वा वर्णधर्मं मयेरितम् । आश्रित्य मम भक्तश्चेत्स्वात्मनात्मानमुद्धरेत् । अलब्धलाभ एवैष कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकः । तस्मान्मे मुखतो लब्धं वर्णधर्मं समाचरेत्
tasmāllabdhvāpyalabdhvā vā varṇadharmaṃ mayeritam | āśritya mama bhaktaścetsvātmanātmānamuddharet | alabdhalābha evaiṣa koṭikoṭiguṇādhikaḥ | tasmānme mukhato labdhaṃ varṇadharmaṃ samācaret
अतः चाहे किसी ने (लौकिक) प्राप्ति पाई हो या न पाई हो, उसे मेरे द्वारा उपदिष्ट वर्णधर्म का आश्रय लेना चाहिए। यदि मेरा भक्त उसका सहारा लेकर अपने आत्मा द्वारा आत्मा का उद्धार करे, तो वही ‘अलब्ध में लाभ’ करोड़ों-करोड़ों गुणों से श्रेष्ठ है। इसलिए मेरे मुख से प्राप्त वर्णधर्म का यथावत् आचरण करे।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Emphasizes dharma as stabilizing discipline for the bound soul regardless of worldly success/failure; ‘alabdhalābha’ (contented non-grasping) is praised as spiritually superior.
Role: teaching
FAQs
Shiva teaches that true spiritual profit is not worldly acquisition but inner elevation: by taking refuge in dharma and devotion, the soul refines itself and moves toward liberation—this ‘gain without worldly gain’ surpasses all other merits.
It frames Saguna Shiva-bhakti as disciplined devotion: worship and surrender are meant to be supported by righteous conduct (varṇa-dharma), making Linga worship a complete path of purification rather than mere ritual for worldly results.
The practical takeaway is steady dharma-based living joined to Shiva-bhakti—regular worship, japa, and self-examination that ‘uplifts the self by the self’; the verse emphasizes inner transformation over seeking external gains.