Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53
शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”
विष्णुरुवाच । हे शंकराः शिवः कुत्र गतस्सर्वप्रभुर्गणाः । निवेदयत नः प्रीत्या दुःखितान्वै कृपालवः
viṣṇuruvāca | he śaṃkarāḥ śivaḥ kutra gatassarvaprabhurgaṇāḥ | nivedayata naḥ prītyā duḥkhitānvai kṛpālavaḥ
Viṣṇu dit : «Ô Śaṅkaras, où est allé Śiva, le Seigneur de tout, et où sont ses gaṇas ? Par compassion, dites-le-nous avec affection, car nous sommes vraiment accablés de peine.»
Vishnu
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
The verse highlights bhakti-bhāva and humility: even a great deity like Viṣṇu expresses distress in separation and seeks Śiva (Pati), implying that grace is approached through sincere longing and respectful inquiry.
It reflects the Saguna dimension of Śiva—knowable through presence, līlā, and divine attendants (gaṇas). When the Lord is not directly perceived, devotees are guided to seek him through loving remembrance and the sacred community around his worship (temple, gaṇa-symbolism, and signs of Śiva).
The takeaway is devotional recollection in separation: repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a prayerful mind, and seek guidance from Śiva’s devotees/servitors (symbolized by the gaṇas) to reorient one’s practice toward grace.