Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63
दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship
क्व स दीक्षितदायादः सर्वधर्मारतिः सदा । शिवालये दैवयोगाद्यातश्चोरयितुं वसु । स्वार्थदीपदशोद्योतलिंगमौलितमोहरः
kva sa dīkṣitadāyādaḥ sarvadharmāratiḥ sadā | śivālaye daivayogādyātaścorayituṃ vasu | svārthadīpadaśodyotaliṃgamaulitamoharaḥ
Di manakah kini waris orang yang telah ditahbiskan itu, yang sentiasa membenci segala dharma? Oleh putaran takdir dia pergi ke kuil Śiva dengan niat mencuri harta. Namun Liṅga—dimahkotai sinar gemilang sepuluh pelita yang dinyalakannya demi kepentingan diri—telah mengelirukan dan memikat hatinya.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya in the Rudra Saṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: A morally inverted entry into the temple (to steal) becomes the occasion for transformation: the thief is arrested by the liṅga’s radiance from ten lamps, illustrating Śiva’s grace operating through temple-sevā even when intention is impure.
Significance: Highlights dīpa-sevā and darśana: even accidental/indirect contact with Śiva’s temple and liṅga can awaken merit and turn the mind toward dharma.
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It shows that even a dharma-averse person can be turned inward by Śiva’s grace: mere contact with Śiva’s shrine and the Linga’s sanctity can awaken repentance and devotion, indicating that Pati (Śiva) can loosen pāśa (bondage) even when the soul approaches with impure intent.
The verse highlights Saguna upāsanā through the Linga: the visible Linga, illumined by lamps, becomes the medium through which consciousness is arrested and redirected from theft to awe—demonstrating how form-based worship can lift the mind toward Śiva.
Deepa-dāna (offering lamps) and steady darśana of the Śiva-Linga are implied; practically, one may combine lamp-offering with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize the mind and purify intention.