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
‘కృష్ణ’గా మారి అనార్యాచారంతో వారు కులధర్మంలో కలుషితులయ్యారు; శ్రుతి అనే వైదిక మార్గాన్ని విడిచి, స్వేచ్ఛావివాహాలు కూడా చేసుకున్నారు।
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.