Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 60
सतीचरिते पितृगृहे आशीर्वाद-वचनम् तथा यौवनारम्भः — Satī at her father’s house: blessings and the onset of youth
यथार्चिषोग्नेस्सवितुर्यांति निर्यांति वासकृत् । गभस्तयस्तथायं वै प्रवाहो गौण उच्यते
yathārciṣognessavituryāṃti niryāṃti vāsakṛt | gabhastayastathāyaṃ vai pravāho gauṇa ucyate
De même que les flammes du feu et les rayons du Soleil semblent s’élancer puis revenir, comme mus par le mouvement du vent, de même ce « flux » (pravāha) n’est dit qu’en un sens secondaire et figuré. En vérité, le Seigneur suprême Śiva demeure immobile, tandis que les apparences naissent au sein de Sa puissance.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Clarifies apparent motion/causality as gauṇa (figurative): the world-process seems to flow, but the Supreme remains unmoving—supporting viveka and detachment from phenomenal ‘pravāha’.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse teaches that perceived “movement” or continuous change is often only an appearance (gauṇa). Spiritually, it points the devotee toward Śiva as the changeless Pati (Lord) behind all transient phenomena, aiding detachment and steadiness in sādhanā.
The Liṅga symbolizes the stable, unshaken Reality of Śiva. While devotees may worship saguna forms and experience dynamic grace, this verse reminds that the ultimate truth is the unmoving Śiva, with all “flows” of manifestation understood as dependent appearances within His śakti.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on the steady Liṅga with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), observing thoughts and sensations as a ‘pravāha’ that seems continuous but is ultimately secondary—returning awareness to Śiva as the still center.