Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 62
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
फलार्थिनो ऽपि यस्यैव मयि चित्तं प्रतिष्ठितम् । भावानुरूपफलदस्तस्याप्यहमनिन्दिते । फलानपेक्षया येषां मनो मत्प्रवणं भवेत् । प्रार्थयेयुः फलं पश्चाद्भक्तास्ते ऽपि मम प्रियाः
phalārthino 'pi yasyaiva mayi cittaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | bhāvānurūpaphaladastasyāpyahamanindite | phalānapekṣayā yeṣāṃ mano matpravaṇaṃ bhavet | prārthayeyuḥ phalaṃ paścādbhaktāste 'pi mama priyāḥ
ഹേ അനിന്ദിതേ! ഫലം ആഗ്രഹിച്ചാലും എന്റെ മേൽ ചിത്തം ദൃഢമായി സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നവന്, അവന്റെ ഭാവാനുസരിച്ച് ഫലം നല്കുന്നവന് ഞാനേ. ഫലാപേക്ഷയില്ലാതെ എന്റെ ഭാഗത്തേക്ക് ചായുന്ന മനസ്സുള്ള ഭക്തര് പിന്നീടൊരു വരം ചോദിച്ചാലും അവരും എനിക്ക് പ്രിയരാണ്.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishing the mind in Śiva (citta-pratiṣṭhā) makes even desire-motivated worship mature into Śiva’s grace; teaches that bhāva (inner disposition) governs the fruit.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva responds to the devotee’s bhāva (inner intention): even desire-motivated worship becomes sanctified when the mind rests in Shiva, while desireless devotion is especially cherished and leads toward liberation.
Linga/Saguna worship is a concrete means to steady the mind in Shiva; when attention is anchored in the Lord through form-based devotion, Shiva grants appropriate fruits—ultimately turning the devotee from seeking boons (bhoga) toward grace and freedom (moksha).
Practice single-pointed bhakti: daily Linga-puja with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water/bilva, and japa while consciously dropping expectation—then, if needed, ask for boons only after establishing devotion.