Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”
यस्य नादिर्न मध्यं च नांतमस्ति जगद्यतः । कथं स्तोष्यामि तं देवं वाङ्मनोगोचरं हरम्
yasya nādirna madhyaṃ ca nāṃtamasti jagadyataḥ | kathaṃ stoṣyāmi taṃ devaṃ vāṅmanogocaraṃ haram
Celui dont procède cet univers n’a ni commencement, ni milieu, ni fin. Comment pourrais-je louer dignement ce Dieu—Hara—qui dépasse la portée de la parole et même de l’esprit ?
Satī (in praise of Lord Śiva, narrated within Rudrasaṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a kṣetra account; it is apophatic theology (neti-like) stressing Śiva’s anādi-ananta nature and His transcendence of mind and speech.
Significance: Directs the pilgrim from external praise to humble surrender; recognizes the limits of vāc and manas, preparing for grace (anugraha) beyond conceptuality.
Mantra: यस्य नादिर्न मध्यं च नांतमस्ति जगद्यतः । कथं स्तोष्यामि तं देवं वाङ्मनोगोचरं हरम्
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: Anādi–ananta assertion: the source of the universe is without beginning, middle, or end
FAQs
It affirms Śiva as ananta—without beginning, middle, or end—transcending speech and thought; the devotee’s humility becomes true bhakti, acknowledging that the Supreme Pati is ultimately beyond conceptual grasp yet knowable by grace.
Though Śiva is beyond mind and words (nirguṇa in essence), the Śiva-liṅga functions as a saguna support for devotion and contemplation—an accessible symbol through which the devotee approaches the ineffable Reality described here.
Practice inward japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with liṅga-dhyāna, letting speech and thought settle; offer simple upacāras (water, bilva) as bhakti while contemplating Śiva as beginningless and endless.