Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
दक्षस्य तपः तथा जगदम्बायाः प्रत्यक्षता — Dakṣa’s Austerities and the Direct Manifestation of Jagadambā
केवलं स्वार्थमिति च सर्वेषां जगतामपि । ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवानां च ब्रह्मणा प्रेरितो ह्यहम्
kevalaṃ svārthamiti ca sarveṣāṃ jagatāmapi | brahmaviṣṇuśivānāṃ ca brahmaṇā prerito hyaham
“(Dengan sangkaan) ‘ini hanyalah demi kepentingan diri’—demikianlah halnya bagi semua alam. Bahkan dalam hal Brahmā, Viṣṇu dan Śiva, aku sendiri pun digerakkan oleh Brahmā untuk bertindak.”
Brahmā
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights how beings often act from svārtha (self-interest), while cosmic actions too unfold through appointed divine roles—pointing the seeker toward surrendering egoic motive and aligning with Shiva’s higher order (pati’s grace).
By contrasting self-driven action with divinely guided action, it encourages Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) as a way to purify intention—turning svārtha into sevā and devotion under Shiva’s governance.
Offer actions with mantra-bhāva—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa—to reduce self-centered motive and dedicate karma to Shiva.