Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48
भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3
तस्मादेवं प्रकर्तव्यं वेदधर्मस्ततो व्रजेत् । त्यक्तलिंगार्चना दैत्या भविष्यंति न संशयः
tasmādevaṃ prakartavyaṃ vedadharmastato vrajet | tyaktaliṃgārcanā daityā bhaviṣyaṃti na saṃśayaḥ
“Oleh itu, hendaklah dilakukan tepat seperti ini, kemudian berjalan menurut dharma Veda. Para Daitya akan meninggalkan pemujaan Śiva-liṅga—tiada syak lagi.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Implicitly teaches that severing liṅga-arcana leads to spiritual decline; conversely, steadfast liṅga-worship protects dharma.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights that adherence to Vedic dharma naturally culminates in devotion to Pati (Śiva); when dharma is redirected or manipulated, even powerful beings like the Daityas can fall away from Liṅga-arcana, losing the grace that steadies the soul (paśu) toward liberation.
Liṅga-arcana is presented as a decisive marker of right orientation toward Saguna Śiva (worship with form and rite). The verse asserts that a strategic shift will cause the Daityas to abandon Liṅga worship—implying that leaving such worship severs one from Śiva’s sustaining anugraha (grace).
The takeaway is to remain steady in Veda-aligned Śiva worship—especially Liṅga-arcana—supported by mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined observance of dharma rather than abandoning core Śaiva rites.