Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse
Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
पुष्टिश्च प्रकृतेर्यस्मात्पुरुषाद्वै द्विजोत्तम । महदादिविशेषांतविकल्पश्चापि सुव्रत
puṣṭiśca prakṛteryasmātpuruṣādvai dvijottama | mahadādiviśeṣāṃtavikalpaścāpi suvrata
Ô le meilleur des deux-fois-nés, puisque l’évolution et la sustentation de Prakṛti procèdent du Puruṣa, toute la différenciation—commençant par Mahat (l’intellect cosmique) et s’achevant dans les éléments particularisés—s’élève elle aussi comme une suite distincte ; ô toi au vœu noble.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga setting; the verse is a cosmological-philosophical statement linking Puruṣa to Prakṛti’s unfolding (mahat-ādi tattva-pariṇāma).
Significance: Frames pilgrimage as tattva-vicāra (discernment of principles): seeing creation as dependent on the Lord rather than self-sufficient Prakṛti.
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: tattva-sṛṣṭi (emanation of mahat-ādi categories)
FAQs
It frames creation as a dependent unfolding: Prakṛti and its evolutes (Mahat onward) function through the presence of conscious Puruṣa, pointing seekers to the primacy of consciousness (ultimately Shiva as Pati) over mere material processes.
By showing that Nature’s powers operate due to consciousness, it supports Saguna Shiva worship (Linga) as devotion to the supreme conscious Lord who empowers all tattvas; the Linga symbolizes that transcendent consciousness present within manifestation.
Meditate on Shiva as the indwelling consciousness behind all mental and elemental changes, and support that contemplation with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to turn attention from tattva-differentiation back to the Pati (Shiva).