Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54
देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras
अथवास्मद्वचश्शेषे वदंत मधुसूदनः । लीलाजाकृतिमीशानं भक्तवत्सलमच्युतः
athavāsmadvacaśśeṣe vadaṃta madhusūdanaḥ | līlājākṛtimīśānaṃ bhaktavatsalamacyutaḥ
Ou bien, lorsque nos paroles furent achevées, Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu), l’Acyuta infaillible, se mit à parler, louant Īśāna (Śiva), dont la manifestation est un jeu divin, et qui demeure à jamais plein de tendresse pour Ses dévots.
Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue flow; Viṣṇu is described as beginning to speak)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it introduces a theologically important moment: Viṣṇu praises Īśāna as līlā-mūrti and bhakta-vatsala, emphasizing Śiva’s sovereign play and gracious accessibility.
Significance: Supports ecumenical pilgrimage ethos: even Viṣṇu venerates Śiva; devotees gain śraddhā in Śiva’s ‘līlā’ governance and protective grace.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as Īśāna whose manifest form is līlā (divine play) and as bhaktavatsala, teaching that grace and liberation are approached through devoted surrender to the Lord who compassionately responds to bhakti.
By praising Śiva’s līlā-born manifestation, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through accessible forms (including the Liṅga) while recognizing that these forms are compassionate self-revelations of the Supreme.
A direct takeaway is bhakti-centered japa and remembrance of Īśāna—especially Panchākṣarī mantra japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a devotee’s attitude, seeking the bhaktavatsala Lord’s grace.