Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny
भ्रातृपंथानमादिश्य त्वं मुने मोघदर्शनः । अयाश्चोर्द्ध्वगतिं तेऽपि भ्रातृमार्गं ययुस्सुताः
bhrātṛpaṃthānamādiśya tvaṃ mune moghadarśanaḥ | ayāścorddhvagatiṃ te'pi bhrātṛmārgaṃ yayussutāḥ
Hỡi hiền giả, lời khuyên của ngài đã thành vô ích: dù được chỉ dạy theo “con đường của người anh”, các người con ấy cũng không đạt được lộ trình thăng thượng. Họ đi theo lối của anh mình, chẳng thể vươn lên cảnh giới tâm linh cao hơn.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse frames a moral-spiritual ‘path’ motif: following a misguided precedent (‘brother’s path’) leads to continued bondage rather than ascent.
Significance: Didactic: warns that lineage/peer imitation without right discernment (viveka) and Śiva-bhakti does not yield ūrdhva-gati (higher ascent).
FAQs
It stresses that mere instruction is ineffective when inner receptivity and dharmic resolve are absent; without devotion and disciplined conduct, one repeats the same lower pattern (“the brother’s path”) instead of attaining the upward movement toward liberation.
In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna Shiva-worship (Linga, mantra, puja) is meant to transform conduct and consciousness; this verse implies that without sincere surrender to Shiva and steady practice, one may imitate others’ paths and miss the elevating purpose of worship.
Adopt a steady Shaiva sadhana that actually changes one’s trajectory—daily Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a vow of restraint—so the mind turns upward rather than following habitual or worldly routes.