Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14
काली-परिचयः / Himagiri Presents Kālī (Pārvatī) to Śiva
ववन्द शीर्ष्णा च पुनर्हिमाचलः स संशयं प्रापददीनसत्त्वः । उवाच वाक्यं जगदेकबन्धुं गिरीश्वरो वाक्यविदां वरिष्ठः
vavanda śīrṣṇā ca punarhimācalaḥ sa saṃśayaṃ prāpadadīnasattvaḥ | uvāca vākyaṃ jagadekabandhuṃ girīśvaro vākyavidāṃ variṣṭhaḥ
ثم إن هيماتشالا انحنى ثانيةً برأسه ساجدًا؛ وقد خارت نفسه ووقع في الشك. عندئذٍ تكلّم جيريشڤارا—أفصحُ العارفين بمواقع الكلام، والقرابةُ الحقّة الوحيدة للعالم كله—مخاطبًا إياه.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Parvati Khanda narrative; Shiva is about to speak)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It shows the devotional posture of śaraṇāgati: even a great being like Himavat bows again, yet doubt can arise; Shiva, the world’s true refuge, responds with clarifying speech that removes saṃśaya and restores right understanding.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva as compassionate teacher and protector—“jagad-eka-bandhu.” In Linga-worship, this same Shiva is approached through reverent bowing and prayer, trusting that the Lord will dispel inner doubt and grant auspicious direction.
A practical takeaway is repeated namaskāra with humility and a prayer to Shiva to remove doubt, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a steadying discipline for the mind.