Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53
गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्
Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages
त्वद्योग्यो हि वरो विष्णुस्सर्वसद्गुणवान्प्रभुः । वैकुण्ठवासी लक्ष्मीशो नानाक्रीडाविशारदः
tvadyogyo hi varo viṣṇussarvasadguṇavānprabhuḥ | vaikuṇṭhavāsī lakṣmīśo nānākrīḍāviśāradaḥ
Indeed, a suitable bridegroom for you is Lord Viṣṇu—the sovereign Lord endowed with every noble virtue. He dwells in Vaikuṇṭha, is the Lord of Lakṣmī, and is skilled in many divine sports. (Yet, from the Śaiva standpoint, such praise does not diminish Śiva’s supremacy as Pati, the ultimate bestower of liberation.)
Himālaya (Himavān), speaking in the marriage-context narrative to Pārvatī/Menā about a prospective match
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: A worldly proposal praising Viṣṇu as a socially suitable match; functions as narrative contrast to Pārvatī’s Śiva-centric destiny, not as a Jyotirliṅga account.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
FAQs
The verse highlights Viṣṇu’s exemplary virtues and divine status as an ideal worldly match, while the wider Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative ultimately establishes that the highest spiritual fulfillment (mokṣa) is granted by Śiva as the supreme Pati.
By contrasting praise of a glorious deity with the later conclusion of Pārvatī’s union with Śiva, the text guides devotees from admiration of divine qualities (saguṇa) toward steadfast devotion to Śiva—commonly centered on Liṅga-worship, where Śiva is approached as the supreme refuge and liberator.
This verse itself is descriptive rather than prescriptive; the practical takeaway in the Pārvatī narrative is to cultivate dharmic virtues and steady devotion, typically expressed in Śaiva practice through japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and Liṅga-pūjā.