Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency
पत्या विहीनाश्च यथैव योषा यथा विपक्षाः खलु मार्गणौघाः । आयूंषि हीनानि यथैव पुण्यैर्व्रतैर्विहीनानि यथा श्रुतानि
patyā vihīnāśca yathaiva yoṣā yathā vipakṣāḥ khalu mārgaṇaughāḥ | āyūṃṣi hīnāni yathaiva puṇyairvratairvihīnāni yathā śrutāni
夫を失った女が頼るところを欠くように、また対する敵なき矢の雨がむなしいように、功徳の行いを欠けば寿命は減ずる。さらに、聖なる学びも、清浄なる誓戒（ヴラタ）と厳正な修行が伴わねば、実りなきものとなる。
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narration)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse teaches that spiritual life requires integration: merit (puṇya) and disciplined vows (vrata) must support one’s learning and devotion. In Shaiva understanding, knowledge becomes transformative only when embodied as right conduct and worship that aligns the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).
Linga/Saguna worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely ritual display; it is sustained by vrata—regular observances, purity, and restraint. The verse implies that without such vowed discipline, even scriptural study or external worship lacks the power to mature into Shiva’s grace and inner purification.
The takeaway is to pair study and mantra with vrata: undertake a Shiva-vrata (e.g., Mahāśivarātri fasting/continence), maintain daily worship with mental steadiness, and support it with puṇya such as charity and non-injury—so practice becomes effective rather than merely formal.