Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
सत्यं पदमुपाश्रित्य स्थितोऽहं मुनिसत्तम । सृष्टिकामोऽभवं तात महादेवाज्ञया ह्यहम्
satyaṃ padamupāśritya sthito'haṃ munisattama | sṛṣṭikāmo'bhavaṃ tāta mahādevājñayā hyaham
M’étant réfugié dans l’état vrai et impérissable, je demeurai établi là, ô le meilleur des sages. Puis, cher ami, par l’ordre de Mahādeva, je me tournai vers l’œuvre de la création.
Brahma (speaking within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narration, under Sūta’s overarching discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Transition from abiding in ‘satya-pada’ to initiating sṛṣṭi under Mahādeva’s ājñā (command)
FAQs
It shows that even Brahmā’s creative power is secondary: he first abides in the “satya-pada” (the stable ground of truth) and then acts only through Mahādeva’s command, reflecting Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on Pati (Shiva) as the supreme governor of all functions.
The verse highlights Saguna Shiva as Mahādeva who issues ajñā (divine ordinance) enabling cosmic functions. Linga-worship centers on this Lord as the sovereign source from whom creation, maintenance, and dissolution proceed.
A practical takeaway is to begin actions with refuge in truth and surrender to Shiva’s will—expressed through japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by calm, steady recollection of Mahādeva as the inner ruler.