Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization
वरं प्राणास्त्याज्यास्तव मम तु संग्रामसमये भवान्साक्षीभूतः क्षणमपि वृतः कार्यकरणे
varaṃ prāṇāstyājyāstava mama tu saṃgrāmasamaye bhavānsākṣībhūtaḥ kṣaṇamapi vṛtaḥ kāryakaraṇe
Besser ist es, das Leben selbst hinzugeben; doch zur Zeit der Schlacht darfst du nicht einmal einen Augenblick zurückweichen. Bleibe als mein Zeuge und sei tätig, die Aufgabe zu vollenden.
A warrior-leader addressing an ally/attendant in the battle narrative (as narrated by Suta Goswami)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a martial exhortation emphasizing steadfastness and ‘sākṣitva’ (witnessing) in accomplishing a duty.
FAQs
It elevates steadfast dharma over self-preservation: even life is secondary to unwavering commitment, while the idea of being a “witness” (sākṣī) hints at the Shaiva inner discipline of acting firmly yet remaining inwardly aware under the Lord’s sovereignty.
In Shaiva devotion, Saguna Shiva is the divine overseer of righteous action; invoking “witnesshood” aligns with offering one’s actions to Shiva—performing duty without wavering, as if before the Linga, the ever-present sign of the Lord.
Adopt sākṣī-bhāva in japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”): act decisively in your duties while mentally offering results to Shiva; reinforce steadiness with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a daily vow of disciplined practice.