Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
तदन्ते च कथं देवस्स तिष्ठति महेश्वरः । कथं प्रसन्नतां याति शंकरो लोकशंकरः
tadante ca kathaṃ devassa tiṣṭhati maheśvaraḥ | kathaṃ prasannatāṃ yāti śaṃkaro lokaśaṃkaraḥ
Und danach, wie verweilt jener Gott, Mahēśvara? Und wie wird Śaṅkara, der Wohltäter der Welten, gnädig und zufrieden?
Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (inquiring of Sūta Gosvāmi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: post-dissolution repose (implied)
FAQs
The verse frames a core Shaiva inquiry: Shiva is the transcendent Pati who remains established beyond the cycles of manifestation, yet becomes graciously accessible to devotees through devotion and dharma—showing both His nirguṇa supremacy and saguna compassion.
By asking how Śaṅkara becomes ‘prasanna’ (pleased), the verse points toward upāsanā—approaching the formless Lord through a sacred form such as the Śiva-liṅga, where worship, mantra, and offering become the means to receive His grace.
The implied takeaway is propitiation through Śiva-upāsanā—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with purity, devotion, and traditional observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.