Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 70
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
यावच्च पातकं देहे तावत्सिद्धिर्न जायते । गते च पातके तस्य सर्वं च सफलं भवेत्
yāvacca pātakaṃ dehe tāvatsiddhirna jāyate | gate ca pātake tasya sarvaṃ ca saphalaṃ bhavet
ตราบใดที่บาปยังคงอยู่ในกาย ตราบนั้นความสำเร็จทางจิตวิญญาณย่อมไม่บังเกิด ครั้นบาปนั้นสิ้นไปแล้ว กิจทั้งปวงของผู้นั้นย่อมสัมฤทธิ์ผล
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudrasaṁhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it states a Siddhāntic principle: pāpa/impurity obstructs siddhi, and removal of mala/pāśa conditions makes sādhana fruitful—implicitly by Śiva’s grace and disciplined practice.
Significance: General: tīrtha-yātrā, pūjā, and vows are efficacious when they purify; the verse motivates prāyaścitta-like purification so that worship yields siddhi and spiritual fruition.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that pāpa (sin/impurity) functions as a binding “pāśa” that obstructs the rise of siddhi; when purification occurs, one’s worship, japa, and inner discipline begin to bear fruit and move the soul toward Shiva’s grace.
Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva are presented as effective means of purification—when the devotee’s impurities are reduced through sincere pūjā, japa, and right conduct, the same practices become increasingly potent and result-giving.
A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-sādhana aimed at purification—Pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined conduct; traditional supports like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa may be adopted as aids to steady devotion and inner cleansing.