Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा
Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचश्शंभोर्मया च भगवान्हरिः । प्रणिपत्य च विश्वेशं प्राह मंदतरं वशी
brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacaśśaṃbhormayā ca bhagavānhariḥ | praṇipatya ca viśveśaṃ prāha maṃdataraṃ vaśī
Brahmā dit : Ayant ainsi entendu les paroles de Śambhu, moi et le Bienheureux Seigneur Hari nous prosternâmes devant Viśveśa, le Maître de l’univers. Alors cet être maître de lui (Hari) parla d’une voix douce et retenue.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The epithet Viśveśa/Viśvanātha (‘Lord of the universe’) resonates with Kāśī’s Jyotirliṅga theology: Śiva as the sovereign bestower of liberation; here, Brahmā and Viṣṇu bow to Viśveśa acknowledging His supremacy in cosmic governance.
Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is traditionally linked with mokṣa and the ‘tāraka’ grace; the verse models śaraṇāgati (prostration) even for the highest deities.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that even cosmic authorities like Brahmā and Viṣṇu respond to Śiva (Śambhu/Viśveśa) with śaraṇāgati—humble surrender—showing Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) worthy of reverence.
By naming Śiva as Viśveśa and showing prostration to Him, the verse supports saguna upāsanā—approaching the Supreme through a worshipful form and title, as in Liṅga-veneration where devotees bow to the Lord present as the universal master.
The practical takeaway is praṇipāta (full prostration) with inner self-control (vaśitva) and gentle speech—an attitude central to mantra-japa and pūjā, including Mahāśivarātri worship.