Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
युवां प्रसूतौ प्रकृतेर्मदीयाया महाबलौ । गात्राभ्यां सव्यसव्याभ्यां मम सर्वेश्वरस्य हि
yuvāṃ prasūtau prakṛtermadīyāyā mahābalau | gātrābhyāṃ savyasavyābhyāṃ mama sarveśvarasya hi
Vous deux, puissants en force, êtes nés de Ma propre Prakṛti ; en vérité, des côtés gauche et droit de Mon corps, Moi, le Seigneur de tout.
Lord Shiva (Sarveśvara) speaking in the creation context of Rudrasaṃhitā
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Cosmogonic teaching: Brahmā and Viṣṇu are said to be born from Śiva’s own Prakṛti and from His two sides—establishing Śiva as the transcendent source of the cosmos.
Significance: Supports the Siddhāntic hierarchy where Pati is the ultimate cause; reinforces temple theology that all deities and functions derive from Śiva’s sovereignty.
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: kalpa-sṛṣṭi (cosmogonic emergence of Brahmā and Viṣṇu)
FAQs
It establishes Shiva as Sarveśvara (the Supreme Lord) who remains the sovereign cause, while creation proceeds through His own Prakṛti—showing the Shaiva Siddhanta relationship of Pati (Lord) governing the tattvas that manifest the world.
By describing Shiva’s manifestation through His ‘sides’ and through Prakṛti, the verse supports Saguna contemplation—worshipping Shiva as the personal Lord who can manifest forms—while the Linga remains the transcendent sign of that same Sarveśvara beyond all forms.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the inner Lord (Sarveśvara) who governs Prakṛti, repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the attitude of surrender, seeing all arising energies as under His command.