Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
शिवदूतस्य शङ्खचूडकुलप्रवेशः — The Śiva-Envoy’s Entry into Śaṅkhacūḍa’s City
अन्येषामपि राजेन्द्र गणानां शंकरस्य च । न स्थातुं संमुखे योग्यः किं पुनस्तस्य संमुखम्
anyeṣāmapi rājendra gaṇānāṃ śaṃkarasya ca | na sthātuṃ saṃmukhe yogyaḥ kiṃ punastasya saṃmukham
يا خيرَ الملوك، إنه لا يَصلُح حتى أن يقفَ مواجهةً أمام سائر غَناتِ شَنْكَرا؛ فكيف له إذن أن يقفَ أمام شَنْكَرا نفسه!
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa battle context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches reverent humility: the ego-bound being cannot confront the divine order even at the level of Śiva’s gaṇas, emphasizing Śiva (Pati) as supremely transcendent and approached through devotion, not arrogance.
It supports Saguna upāsanā: approaching Śiva through His accessible manifestations—Liṅga worship, names, forms, and His divine attendants—cultivates surrender and fitness to receive grace, rather than attempting to ‘face’ the Absolute through pride.
A practical takeaway is bhakti with humility—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and respectful worship (arcana) of Śiva, ideally with Tripuṇḍra bhasma and Rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance and surrender.