Shloka 17
ब्रह्माण्डदान-प्रशंसा तथा ब्रह्माण्ड-प्रमाण-वर्णनम्
Praise of the Gift of the Cosmic Egg and Description of the Brahmāṇḍa’s Measure
संकर्षणात्मको रुद्रो विषानलशिखोज्ज्वलः । कल्पांते निष्क्रमन्ते यद्वक्त्रेभ्योऽग्निशिखा मुहुः । दग्ध्वा जगत्त्रयं शान्ता भवंतीत्यनुशुश्रुम
saṃkarṣaṇātmako rudro viṣānalaśikhojjvalaḥ | kalpāṃte niṣkramante yadvaktrebhyo'gniśikhā muhuḥ | dagdhvā jagattrayaṃ śāntā bhavaṃtītyanuśuśruma
We have heard that Rudra, whose very nature is Saṅkarṣaṇa and who blazes with the flames of poison and fire, at the end of a kalpa repeatedly sends forth tongues of fire from His mouths; having burned the three worlds, those flames then become tranquil.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages, Umāsaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It portrays Rudra as the cosmic dissolver whose fiery power ends the kalpa, teaching that all conditioned worlds are impermanent and that peace (śānti) is restored when dissolution completes—pointing the seeker toward Pati (Śiva) beyond change.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva as Rudra with mouths emitting dissolving fire; Linga-worship anchors devotion to that same Lord who governs creation, maintenance, and dissolution, helping the devotee contemplate His sovereign power while seeking His grace.
A practical takeaway is Rudra-dhyāna with the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), contemplating Rudra’s purifying fire as the burning of inner impurities (pāśa) rather than fear of outer destruction.