Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
मत्वांधकं दुष्टमतिं प्रधानो महेश्वरो लौकिकभावशीलः । प्रोवाच दैत्यं स्मितपूर्वमेवमाकर्ण्य सर्वं त्वथ दूतवाक्यम्
matvāṃdhakaṃ duṣṭamatiṃ pradhāno maheśvaro laukikabhāvaśīlaḥ | provāca daityaṃ smitapūrvamevamākarṇya sarvaṃ tvatha dūtavākyam
Da er verstand, dass Andhaka böse Absichten hatte, sprach der höchste Herr Maheśvara – der um der weltlichen Angelegenheiten willen eine menschenähnliche Art annimmt – nachdem er die Worte des Boten vollständig gehört hatte, zu dem Dämon, zuerst mit einem sanften Lächeln.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the scene of Lord Śiva addressing the demon after hearing the messenger)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s supreme mastery: even when confronting adharma, He remains inwardly untouched and responds with calm compassion, using worldly conduct (laukika-bhāva) as a pedagogical līlā to restore dharma.
The verse portrays Saguna Śiva—personally engaging the devotee or foe in history—while remaining the transcendent Pati. Linga-worship trains the mind to perceive this: the formless Absolute expressed through a gracious, approachable form that guides beings away from duṣṭa-mati.
Cultivate Śiva-like composure through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditative restraint (saṁyama): hear fully, respond without anger, and anchor the mind in Śiva-bhāva before action.