Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast
विशरीरो यथाजीवो विशृङ्गो वा यथा वृषः । विदंष्ट्रश्च यथा सिंहस्तथा विष्णुरवस्थितः
viśarīro yathājīvo viśṛṅgo vā yathā vṛṣaḥ | vidaṃṣṭraśca yathā siṃhastathā viṣṇuravasthitaḥ
De même qu’un être vivant sans corps est impuissant, qu’un taureau sans cornes est sans effet, et qu’un lion sans crocs s’affaiblit—ainsi Viṣṇu, sans Śiva, demeure privé de puissance.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it is a doctrinal simile-chain asserting dependence of even Viṣṇu upon Śiva, analogous to a jīva’s dependence on embodiment and instruments.
Significance: Doctrinal fruit (jñāna-phala): firm conviction (niścaya) in Śiva as Pati, the indispensable ground of all powers; supports śaraṇāgati and steadies bhakti.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It asserts Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose grace empowers all cosmic functions; without Śiva’s sanction and śakti, even great divine roles become like strength without its instruments—present in name but ineffective for liberation.
By emphasizing dependence on Śiva, it supports Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship as the direct means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace), through which all other forms of devotion and divine powers become spiritually fruitful.
A practical takeaway is to center daily sādhanā on Śiva—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, and (where customary) Śiva-pūjā with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadfast remembrance.