Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14
पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati
एक एव तदा रुद्रो न द्वितीयो ऽस्ति कश्चन । संसृज्य विश्वभुवनं गोप्ता ते संचुकोच यः
eka eva tadā rudro na dvitīyo 'sti kaścana | saṃsṛjya viśvabhuvanaṃ goptā te saṃcukoca yaḥ
En ce temps-là, Rudra seul existait—il n’y avait absolument pas de second. Ayant émané l’univers entier et tous les mondes, il en devint le protecteur ; et c’est Lui encore qui les résorbe (lors de la dissolution).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Cosmic Event: sarga-sthiti-pralaya cycle; pralaya/saṃkoca (contraction)
FAQs
It establishes Rudra (Pati) as the non-dual supreme principle who performs sṛṣṭi (emanation), sthiti (protection), and saṃhāra (withdrawal), teaching that liberation comes by turning from the transient cosmos to the eternal Lord.
Though Rudra is ultimately one without a second, devotees approach Him through Saguna forms—especially the Śiva-liṅga—where the same supreme Reality is worshipped as the source, sustainer, and dissolver of the worlds.
Meditate on Śiva as the inner Lord of the three functions (creation–protection–dissolution) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.