Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake
नाभक्तशिष्याय च नास्तिकेभ्यो दत्तं हि मोहान्निरयं ददाति । मार्गेण सेवानुगतेन यैस्तद्दत्तं गृहीतं पठितं श्रुतं वा
nābhaktaśiṣyāya ca nāstikebhyo dattaṃ hi mohānnirayaṃ dadāti | mārgeṇa sevānugatena yaistaddattaṃ gṛhītaṃ paṭhitaṃ śrutaṃ vā
คำสอนนี้ไม่พึงมอบแก่ศิษย์ผู้ไร้ศรัทธา และไม่พึงมอบแก่ผู้ปฏิเสธศรัทธา; เพราะเมื่อให้ด้วยความหลง ย่อมนำไปสู่นรก แต่ผู้ใดดำเนินตามมรรคอันถูกต้องด้วยจิตแห่งการปรนนิบัติ แล้วรับไว้—จะรับมา อ่าน หรือเพียงได้ฟัง—ผู้นั้นย่อมเป็นผู้สมควรได้รับอานิสงส์।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: This verse functions as an adhikāri-nirṇaya (eligibility rule) for transmitting Śaiva teaching; it is not tied to a specific liṅga-sthala narrative.
Significance: Emphasizes that śravaṇa/pāṭha of Śaiva doctrine bears fruit only when received through proper adhikāra (devotion, service, right method).
FAQs
It teaches that Shaiva wisdom is not merely information—it is a sacred transmission that bears fruit only in a qualified heart marked by bhakti and disciplined receptivity; careless sharing from delusion leads to spiritual downfall.
Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upasana require shraddha, purity of intent, and obedient practice under right guidance; the verse emphasizes that hearing/reciting about Shiva becomes fruitful when joined to seva and the proper path.
The takeaway is disciplined śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) under a devoted, service-oriented attitude (seva) toward Shiva and the guru—rather than casual or skeptical engagement.