Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 60
देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
अहं भक्तपराधीनस्तथा सोपि महेश्वरः । दक्षो भक्तो हि मे तात तस्मादत्रागतो मखे
ahaṃ bhaktaparādhīnastathā sopi maheśvaraḥ | dakṣo bhakto hi me tāta tasmādatrāgato makhe
“เราขึ้นอยู่กับผู้ภักดีของเรา—แม้พระมหेशวรก็เป็นเช่นนั้น. ลูกเอ๋ย ทักษะเป็นผู้ภักดีของเรา; เพราะฉะนั้นเราจึงมาสู่ยัญพิธีนี้”
Lord Vishnu
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha
Sthala Purana: Kedāra is famed as the place where Śiva is approached through devotion and surrender; the verse’s ‘bhakta-parādhīna’ theme aligns with Kedāra’s bhakti-centered pilgrimage ethos (contextual).
Significance: Teaches that divine accessibility is governed by bhakti; encourages humility and service as the means to receive grace (anugraha).
Mantra: ahaṃ bhaktaparādhīnaḥ tathā so’pi maheśvaraḥ
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches bhakta-parādhīnatā—divine grace responds to devotion. Even the Supreme Lord, who is beyond all bonds, willingly accepts the “bond” of love, showing that bhakti is a direct path to Shiva’s favor and protection.
Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā) is meaningful because the Lord becomes accessible through devotion. The verse underscores that heartfelt bhakti, expressed through worship and reverence, draws the Lord’s presence even into worldly rites like yajñas.
Practice steady bhakti through daily Shiva-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance—offering worship with humility rather than pride in ritual status.