Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13
विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्
Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion
आरुरोहाथ कमलं नालमार्गेण वै मुने । कुड्मलं कमलस्याथ लब्धवान्न विमोहिताः
ārurohātha kamalaṃ nālamārgeṇa vai mune | kuḍmalaṃ kamalasyātha labdhavānna vimohitāḥ
أيها الحكيم، ثم صعد إلى زهرة اللوتس عبر طريق ساقها؛ وبعد ذلك بلغ برعم اللوتس، ولم يقع في الوهم أو الضلال.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages, addressing a sage as “mune” in the flow of the account)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It depicts Brahmā’s earnest ascent and inquiry, symbolizing the soul’s striving through created supports; yet the Supreme (Śiva as Pati) is not reached by mere movement within the manifested order—clarity and steadfastness are required.
Brahmā’s search along the lotus-stalk points to the limits of seeking the Absolute through visible forms alone; the Śiva-liṅga, while a saguna support for devotion, ultimately leads the devotee to recognize Śiva as the transcendent source beyond the created ‘stalk’ of manifestation.
The takeaway is disciplined upward contemplation (ūrdhva-dhyāna) with steadiness—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused meditation on the liṅga as a doorway to the formless Supreme.