Shloka 31
तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka
तमूर्द्ध्वरेतसं शंभुं सैव प्रच्युतरेतसम् । कर्तुं समर्था नान्यास्ति तथा काप्यबला बलात्
tamūrddhvaretasaṃ śaṃbhuṃ saiva pracyutaretasam | kartuṃ samarthā nānyāsti tathā kāpyabalā balāt
Only she (Pārvatī) is capable of making Śambhu—whose vital energy is held upward in perfect continence—release that energy; no other woman, however forceful, has the power to do so.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages, describing Pārvatī’s unique śakti)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva Siddhānta vision that Śiva is the supreme yogin (ūrdhva-retas), yet only Śakti—here Pārvatī—can awaken and direct his manifesting power. The verse points to the inseparability of Pati (Śiva) and Śakti in divine action, while affirming Śiva’s mastery over desire.
The Liṅga symbolizes Śiva’s transcendent stillness and yogic restraint, while Pārvatī represents the power by which that transcendence becomes compassionate manifestation. Worship of Saguna Śiva in the Liṅga is thus worship of Śiva together with his Śakti—stillness and power as one reality.
The verse implicitly supports yogic discipline: brahmacarya (restraint), prāṇāyāma and inward ascent of energy (ūrdhva-retas), along with devotion to Śiva-Śakti through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to harmonize restraint with surrender.