Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21
गणेशविवाहोत्सवः तथा सिद्धि-बुद्धि-सन्तानवर्णनम् | Gaṇeśa’s Wedding Festival and the Progeny of Siddhi & Buddhi
इति नीतिः श्रुतौ प्रोक्ता स्मृतौ शास्त्रेषु सर्वतः । निवेदिता च सा तेऽद्य यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
iti nītiḥ śrutau proktā smṛtau śāstreṣu sarvataḥ | niveditā ca sā te'dya yathecchasi tathā kuru
ಇಂತೆ ಧರ್ಮನೀತಿ ಶ್ರುತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದೆ, ಸ್ಮೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಮತ್ತು ಎಲ್ಲ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಇದೆ. ಇಂದು ನಾನು ಅದನ್ನು ನಿನಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿದೆ; ಈಗ ನಿನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದಂತೆ ಮಾಡು.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse affirms that true nīti (right conduct) is consistent across Śruti, Smṛti, and Śāstra, and that a seeker must consciously choose to live it—an essential Shaiva discipline for purifying the pashu (bound soul) and moving toward Shiva’s grace.
Linga-worship is not only ritual but also a life of śāstra-aligned conduct; honoring Saguna Shiva through pūjā is completed by living the nīti that the scriptures uphold, making devotion ethically grounded and fit to receive Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
The practical takeaway is śāstra-following daily discipline: combine Shiva-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with conduct rooted in dharma; this verse emphasizes choosing and practicing that alignment rather than prescribing a specific item like bhasma or rudrākṣa.