Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 64
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
पादप्रणामफलदो नाथस्य भवतो यतः । विष्णुरुवाच । स्तोतुं देव न वागस्ति महिम्नः सदृशी तव
pādapraṇāmaphalado nāthasya bhavato yataḥ | viṣṇuruvāca | stotuṃ deva na vāgasti mahimnaḥ sadṛśī tava
เพราะพระองค์ โอ้พระนาถ ประทานผลแห่งการกราบลงแทบพระบาทของพระองค์ วิษณุกล่าวว่า “โอ้เทวะ วาจาใดก็ไม่อาจสรรเสริญพระสิริของพระองค์ได้ ไม่มีสิ่งใดเสมอด้วยพระมหิมา”
Vishnu
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Emphasizes pādapraṇāma (prostration) as a direct means to receive Śiva’s grace; pilgrimage and darśana are fruitful when grounded in humility.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva, the supreme Pati, graciously grants spiritual fruits even for the simple act of surrender through prostration, while His true greatness remains beyond the limits of speech—pointing the seeker toward humility and devotion.
By emphasizing Shiva’s accessibility through devotion (pādapraṇāma), the verse supports Saguna worship—such as bowing before the Shiva Linga—where a finite act of bhakti connects the devotee to the infinite Lord whose glory cannot be fully expressed.
A direct takeaway is daily śiva-praṇāma (full prostration) with inner surrender, optionally joined with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as an offering of speech when words themselves are admitted to be insufficient.