Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47
देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras
उमा सा भिन्नरूपेण संजाता कार्यसाधिनी । सरस्वती तथा लक्ष्मीर्द्विधा रूपा पुरा प्रभो
umā sā bhinnarūpeṇa saṃjātā kāryasādhinī | sarasvatī tathā lakṣmīrdvidhā rūpā purā prabho
«Ô Seigneur, cette Umā se manifesta sous des formes distinctes, accomplissant les desseins divins ; et jadis, Sarasvatī ainsi que Lakṣmī prirent elles aussi une forme double.»
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Satī narrative context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: creative
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: cosmic emanation of śaktis into functional forms (deva-śakti-vyūha)
FAQs
It affirms that Umā (Śakti) manifests in many forms to accomplish divine purposes—showing that the Lord’s grace operates through Saguna expressions for sustaining dharma and guiding beings toward liberation.
Linga-worship honors Shiva as the transcendent Pati, while this verse highlights Śakti as His operative power; together they frame Shiva–Śakti worship where Saguna forms (Devi, deities) serve the same supreme reality revealed in the Linga.
A practical takeaway is Shiva–Śakti upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with devotional contemplation of Umā as the divine power enabling right action (kārya-siddhi), optionally supported by bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids.