Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
प्रीतोहं युवयोस्सम्यग्वरं दद्यां यथेप्सितम् । मयि भक्तिर्दृढा भूयाद्युवयोरभ्यनुज्ञया
prītohaṃ yuvayossamyagvaraṃ dadyāṃ yathepsitam | mayi bhaktirdṛḍhā bhūyādyuvayorabhyanujñayā
Ta thật sự hài lòng về cả hai con. Ta sẽ ban cho các con một ân huệ đúng như điều các con mong cầu. Với sự thuận ý của các con, nguyện lòng sùng kính kiên cố đối với Ta ngày càng vững bền trong các con.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Boon-bestowal frame: Śiva, pleased, offers desired boons and explicitly blesses the growth of firm bhakti—grace (anugraha) as the decisive factor in spiritual fruition.
Significance: Highlights that the highest ‘boon’ is dṛḍha-bhakti itself; encourages devotees to seek not only worldly results but stabilizing devotion leading toward liberation.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse shows that Shiva’s highest gift is not merely a worldly boon, but unwavering devotion (dṛḍha-bhakti), which ripens the soul toward liberation under the Lord’s grace.
It affirms Saguna Shiva’s compassionate accessibility: the devotee approaches the Lord through worship (often centered on the Liṅga), and Shiva responds personally by granting blessings and deepening bhakti.
A practical takeaway is to pray for dṛḍha-bhakti while performing daily Shiva-pūjā—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a devotional vow (saṅkalpa) that one’s devotion become steady.