Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44
दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot
Pre-battle Portents
अन्यच्च कारणं ह्येतद्दुष्टानां प्रत्ययाय वै । सर्वेष्वपि च देवेषु यस्मान्नान्यो विशिष्यते
anyacca kāraṇaṃ hyetadduṣṭānāṃ pratyayāya vai | sarveṣvapi ca deveṣu yasmānnānyo viśiṣyate
Und es gibt noch einen weiteren Grund dafür: wahrlich, um selbst bei den Bösen Gewissheit zu erwecken; denn unter allen Göttern ist keiner Ihm überlegen, da keine Gottheit Ihn in irgendeiner Hinsicht übertrifft.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, affirming Śiva’s unsurpassed supremacy)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The verse gives a polemical/didactic purpose: to produce pratyaya (certainty) even in the duṣṭa—removing wrong notions that other devas could be superior; thus it functions as a revelation that dispels concealment (tirodhāna) of true hierarchy.
Significance: Cultivates niścaya (firm conviction) in Śiva as supreme Pati; such right-view is treated as a prerequisite for effective upāsanā and eventual anugraha.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It declares that the narrative and revelation of Śiva’s acts are meant to establish unshakable certainty (pratyaya) even in skeptical or wicked minds, affirming Śiva as the unsurpassed Pati (Lord) beyond all limited divine ranks.
By stating that none among the devas exceeds Him, the verse supports exclusive refuge in Śiva—worshipped as the Liṅga (transcendent sign) and as Saguna Śiva (gracious Lord with attributes)—as the highest focus for devotion and liberation.
Cultivate firm pratyaya through daily Śiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady Liṅga-dhyāna to remove doubt and stabilize devotion.