Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13
रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा
Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions
सर्वेषां प्राणरूपश्च भव त्वं च ममाज्ञया । संकटे भजनीयो हि स रुद्रो मत्तनुर्हरे
sarveṣāṃ prāṇarūpaśca bhava tvaṃ ca mamājñayā | saṃkaṭe bhajanīyo hi sa rudro mattanurhare
«Par Mon ordre, tu deviendras la forme même du souffle vital (prāṇa) en tous les êtres. En temps de détresse, ce Rudra —manifestation de Mon propre corps— doit assurément être vénéré, ô Hari.»
Lord Shiva (Rudra/Pati) addressing Lord Vishnu (Hari) within the creation narrative
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Significance: Establishes Rudra as the immediate refuge in saṅkaṭa (distress); devotion to Rudra is framed as direct access to Śiva’s own body (mattanū), emphasizing grace through surrender.
Cosmic Event: Sṛṣṭi-prasaṅga: delegation of cosmic function where Viṣṇu becomes prāṇa-rūpa within beings by Śiva’s command.
FAQs
It teaches that Rudra is not merely an external deity but the indwelling life-principle (prāṇa) sustaining all beings, and that surrender to Him in संकट (crisis) is a direct Shaiva path of grace and protection leading toward liberation.
By identifying Rudra as a manifest, worship-worthy protector in distress, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Shiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga—while remembering that the same Rudra pervades within as prāṇa.
In times of fear or instability, one should take refuge in Rudra through bhakti—mentally repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering simple worship to the Śiva-liṅga; this aligns the prāṇa with Shiva as the inner Lord.