Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
अंते मुक्तिफलं चैव भक्तिं वा परमेशितुः । पूर्वपुण्यातिरेकेण तेऽर्चयंति सदाशिवम्
aṃte muktiphalaṃ caiva bhaktiṃ vā parameśituḥ | pūrvapuṇyātirekeṇa te'rcayaṃti sadāśivam
അവസാനത്തിൽ അവർ മുക്തിഫലം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പരമേശ്വരന്റെ പരമഭക്തി ലഭിക്കുന്നു. മുൻപുണ്യത്തിന്റെ അധികബലത്താൽ അവർ സദാശിവനെ അർച്ചിക്കുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Explicitly frames the highest telos as mukti or para-bhakti, both dependent on Śiva’s anugraha; ‘pūrvapuṇyātireka’ indicates ripening of merit that turns the soul toward Sadāśiva-worship.
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that sincere worship of Sadāśiva culminates either in moksha (liberation) or in the highest form of bhakti; both are presented as supreme ends blessed by Parameśvara, ripened through prior merit (pūrva-puṇya).
By stating that devotees “worship Sadāśiva,” the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotional worship of Shiva in an accessible form (such as the Śiva-liṅga)—as a legitimate means that matures into liberation or unwavering devotion.
The practical takeaway is steady Shiva-arcana (daily worship): offering water and bilva leaves to the liṅga, repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintaining bhakti as the core intention.