Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
देवसर्गः प्रतिख्यातस्सत्योऽतीव सुखावहः । तमप्यसाधकं मत्वाऽचिंतयं प्रभुमात्मनः
devasargaḥ pratikhyātassatyo'tīva sukhāvahaḥ | tamapyasādhakaṃ matvā'ciṃtayaṃ prabhumātmanaḥ
Die Schöpfung der Götter war weithin gerühmt, in ihrer Ordnung wahrhaftig und überaus glückbringend im Weltlichen. Doch da er auch dies für unzureichend zur höchsten Vollendung hielt, sann er über den Höchsten Herrn nach—den inneren Meister in sich selbst.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Turning-point in sṛṣṭi narrative: even deva-sarga (sattva and sukha) is judged insufficient for the highest end; movement toward īśvara-cintana (grace-oriented axis).
FAQs
It distinguishes worldly well-being (sukha) produced by even a “true and famed” divine creation from the supreme attainment (moksha). The verse points to Shiva as Pati—the indwelling Lord—whose contemplation alone fulfills the highest purpose beyond creation’s comforts.
Though the verse speaks of inner contemplation, Shaiva practice commonly supports this through Saguna upasana—especially Linga worship—using form as a focus to realize Shiva as the inner Prabhu (ātmanah prabhuḥ) and not merely as an external giver of worldly सुख.
A direct takeaway is Shiva-dhyāna: steady contemplation of the Lord within, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”). The emphasis is on sādhanā aimed at liberation rather than only prosperity.