Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47
अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins
नाना भावैर्लीलयैव स्वीकृतैर्निर्जरादिकान् । नूनं बिभषिं लोकेशो हंस्युन्मार्गान्स्वभावतः
nānā bhāvairlīlayaiva svīkṛtairnirjarādikān | nūnaṃ bibhaṣiṃ lokeśo haṃsyunmārgānsvabhāvataḥ
“Surely, O Lord of the worlds, by assuming many moods and by līlā—divine play and stratagem—you have already brought the gods and others under your sway. Therefore now you seem to restrain the paths of those who, by their very nature, would rush toward destruction.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, with the verse reflecting a character’s addressed praise within the narration)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Type: stotra
FAQs
It highlights Shiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose grace governs even the devas—who, through līlā, restrains destructive impulses and redirects beings toward dharma and ultimately liberation.
The verse points to Saguna Shiva as the active Lord of the worlds who intervenes in history and battle. Linga-worship trains the devotee to surrender to that governing grace (anugraha) that checks ruinous tendencies and restores right order.
A practical takeaway is japa with devotion—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating śaraṇāgati (surrender) so one’s natural impulses are restrained and aligned with Shiva’s dharmic guidance.