Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”
विद्याकारोद्भावनीयं प्रभिन्नं सत्त्वच्छंदं ध्येयमात्मस्वरूपम् । सारं पारं पावनानां पवित्रं तस्मै रूपं यस्य चैवं नमस्ते
vidyākārodbhāvanīyaṃ prabhinnaṃ sattvacchaṃdaṃ dhyeyamātmasvarūpam | sāraṃ pāraṃ pāvanānāṃ pavitraṃ tasmai rūpaṃ yasya caivaṃ namaste
Salutations à Celui dont la Forme est ainsi : réalisable par la manifestation de la connaissance sacrée ; distincte et transcendante ; de sattva pur et parfaitement accordée à la Vérité ; digne d’être méditée comme la nature essentielle du Soi. Il est la quintessence et l’autre rive, le Purificateur de tout ce qui purifie, le Très-Saint suprême.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the hymn within the Satīkhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Mantra: विद्याकारोद्भावनीयं प्रभिन्नं सत्त्वच्छंदं ध्येयमात्मस्वरूपम् । सारं पारं पावनानां पवित्रं तस्मै रूपं यस्य चैवं नमस्ते
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It praises Shiva as the supremely pure Pati (Lord) who is realized through vidyā and dhyāna, and who is to be known as one’s own ātma-svarūpa—pointing to liberation through inner recognition of Shiva as the Self’s ground.
While the verse speaks in a more nirguṇa-leaning way (Shiva as ātma-svarūpa and the ‘far shore’), it supports saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā by teaching that the outward form is a gateway to inward realization—meditating on Shiva’s form as the very essence of consciousness and purity.
A dhyāna practice is implied: contemplate Shiva as the pure, sattvic Self within. In Shaiva practice this pairs well with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and inward meditation on Shiva as the supreme purifier.