Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57
नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion
जातापि शंकरे भक्तिरन्यसाधारणी वृथा । परं त्वव्यभिचारेण शिवभक्तिरपेक्षिता
jātāpi śaṃkare bhaktiranyasādhāraṇī vṛthā | paraṃ tvavyabhicāreṇa śivabhaktirapekṣitā
शंकरावर भक्ती जरी उत्पन्न झाली, तरी ती इतर हेतूंशी मिसळलेली, चंचल व साधारण असेल तर व्यर्थ ठरते. अपेक्षित आहे अव्यभिचारिणी, एकनिष्ठ शिवभक्ती.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it distinguishes true Śiva-bhakti from mixed, goal-diverted religiosity, treating ‘shared’ devotion as ineffective for liberation.
Significance: General: teaches ekānta-bhakti (exclusive devotion) as the decisive orientation for Śiva’s saving path.
FAQs
It teaches that bhakti becomes spiritually effective only when it is steady and single-pointed toward Śiva (Pati); mixed or wavering devotion tied to competing aims does not lead to Śiva’s grace and liberation.
Liṅga/Saguṇa worship is meant to stabilize the mind in one chosen divine focus—Śiva alone—so that devotion does not ‘deviate’ to other supports; the verse emphasizes this non-deviating orientation as the core of worship.
Adopt a consistent Śiva-vrata: daily Liṅga-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a firm resolve to keep Śiva as the sole refuge (ananya-bhakti), avoiding distraction into competing devotional aims.