Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
अंते मुक्तिफलं चैव भक्तिं वा परमेशितुः । पूर्वपुण्यातिरेकेण तेऽर्चयंति सदाशिवम्
aṃte muktiphalaṃ caiva bhaktiṃ vā parameśituḥ | pūrvapuṇyātirekeṇa te'rcayaṃti sadāśivam
ในบั้นปลาย พวกเขาย่อมได้ผลแห่งโมกษะ หรือได้ภักติอันสูงสุดต่อพระปรเมศวร ด้วยกำลังบุญเก่าที่ทวีเพิ่ม เขาจึงบูชาพระสทาศิวะ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Explicitly frames the highest telos as mukti or para-bhakti, both dependent on Śiva’s anugraha; ‘pūrvapuṇyātireka’ indicates ripening of merit that turns the soul toward Sadāśiva-worship.
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that sincere worship of Sadāśiva culminates either in moksha (liberation) or in the highest form of bhakti; both are presented as supreme ends blessed by Parameśvara, ripened through prior merit (pūrva-puṇya).
By stating that devotees “worship Sadāśiva,” the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotional worship of Shiva in an accessible form (such as the Śiva-liṅga)—as a legitimate means that matures into liberation or unwavering devotion.
The practical takeaway is steady Shiva-arcana (daily worship): offering water and bilva leaves to the liṅga, repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintaining bhakti as the core intention.