Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्
Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas
ज्ञात्वा च तत्सर्वमिदं भविष्यं सतीकृतं दुष्प्रसहं परेषाम् । गताः स्वलोकं स्वगणान्वितास्तु स्मृत्वा शिवं सर्वपतिं स्वतंत्रम्
jñātvā ca tatsarvamidaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ satīkṛtaṃ duṣprasahaṃ pareṣām | gatāḥ svalokaṃ svagaṇānvitāstu smṛtvā śivaṃ sarvapatiṃ svataṃtram
Sachant tout ce qui devait advenir—l’avenir accompli par Satī, irrésistible aux autres—ces serviteurs, accompagnés de leurs propres troupes, retournèrent dans leurs mondes respectifs, tout en se souvenant de Śiva, le Seigneur autonome, le Maître suprême de tous.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The verse sits within the Dakṣa-yajña cycle: Satī’s agency precipitates the turning of events, and Śiva’s svātantrya (independence) is remembered by the gaṇas as they return to their spheres.
Mantra: śivaṃ sarvapatiṃ svataṃtram
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva as “svatantra” (absolutely independent) and “sarvapati” (Lord of all), teaching that events unfold under divine sovereignty, and that remembrance of Śiva is a stabilizing, liberating act even amid inevitable karmic turns.
Remembering Śiva as the supreme Lord aligns with Saguna devotion—worshipping Śiva with form and qualities (as Pati and protector). In Linga-worship, the devotee similarly centers the mind on Śiva’s lordship and presence, allowing all circumstances to be spiritually integrated.
A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady attention, especially during upheaval, as a simple meditative discipline consistent with Shaiva devotion.