Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
नैकाग्रं चेच्छिवे चित्तं किं कृतेनापि कर्मणा । एकाग्रमेव चेच्चित्तं किं कृतेनापि कर्मणा
naikāgraṃ cecchive cittaṃ kiṃ kṛtenāpi karmaṇā | ekāgrameva ceccittaṃ kiṃ kṛtenāpi karmaṇā
ചിത്തം ശിവനിൽ ഏകാഗ്രമല്ലെങ്കിൽ, ചെയ്ത കര്മംകൊണ്ടും എന്ത് പ്രയോജനം? ചിത്തം സത്യമായി ഏകാഗ്രമെങ്കിൽ, ചെയ്ത കര്മംകൊണ്ടും എന്ത് ആവശ്യം?
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Naṭarāja
FAQs
It teaches that liberation-oriented worship depends primarily on ekāgratā—steady, single-pointed absorption in Śiva; without inner focus, external deeds become spiritually fruitless.
Linga-worship and saguna upāsanā are meant to gather the mind into one-pointed devotion; the verse emphasizes that the true offering is concentrated awareness in Śiva, with rituals serving that inner aim.
Prioritize dhyāna and japa that produce ekāgratā—especially Panchākṣarī mantra-japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—and let any pūjā, bhasma/Tripuṇḍra, or Rudrākṣa observance be supportive rather than merely mechanical.