Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
कृष्णो भूत्वान्यनार्यश्च दूषिताः कुलधर्मतः । श्रुतिमार्गं परित्यज्य स्वविवाहाः कृतास्तथा
kṛṣṇo bhūtvānyanāryaśca dūṣitāḥ kuladharmataḥ | śrutimārgaṃ parityajya svavivāhāḥ kṛtāstathā
Setelah menjadi 'Kṛṣṇa' dan bertindak dengan cara yang tidak layak bagi golongan mulia, mereka menjadi tercemar berkenaan dengan tugas keturunan mereka. Meninggalkan jalan Veda śruti, mereka juga melakukan perkahwinan mengikut pilihan mereka sendiri.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse contrasts śruti-based dharma with self-willed conduct, implying that spiritual stability and purity arise from alignment with Vedic discipline; from a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, right conduct supports devotion to Pati (Śiva) and loosens pāśa (bondage).
Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship in the Purāṇa is repeatedly framed as effective when joined to dharmic observance (śruti-mārga); abandoning foundational discipline is portrayed as a cause of moral and ritual decline, weakening the devotee’s receptivity to Śiva’s grace.
The takeaway is to return to śruti-aligned sādhana: regular Shiva-pūjā with purity and restraint, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and traditional observances (such as bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) performed with dharmic intent.