Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9
युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict
शिवे दृष्टे तदा देवे निर्गुणे गुणरूपिणि । विष्णौ चैवाथ संग्रामे आयाते सर्वदेवताः
śive dṛṣṭe tadā deve nirguṇe guṇarūpiṇi | viṣṇau caivātha saṃgrāme āyāte sarvadevatāḥ
When the Deva Śiva was beheld—truly nirguṇa, yet also assuming a form endowed with qualities—then, as the battle with Viṣṇu commenced, all the gods arrived there.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It presents Śiva as simultaneously nirguṇa (beyond all limiting qualities) and guṇa-rūpin (graciously manifest with qualities), guiding the devotee to honor both transcendence and divine accessibility.
By stating that the nirguṇa Lord is also guṇa-rūpin, the verse supports saguna upāsanā—such as worship of the Śiva-liṅga—while affirming that the ultimate reality of Śiva surpasses all attributes.
Contemplate Śiva as nirguṇa while offering bhakti to His manifest form—pairing japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with liṅga-pūjā as a unified practice of inner realization and outer devotion.