Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
सृष्टिप्रवृत्तिकामस्य कथं ज्ञानं प्रजायते । यतो लब्धो विवेकोऽपि न मया हंसरूपिणा
sṛṣṭipravṛttikāmasya kathaṃ jñānaṃ prajāyate | yato labdho viveko'pi na mayā haṃsarūpiṇā
जो सृष्टि-प्रवृत्ति की कामना से प्रेरित है, उसमें सच्चा ज्ञान कैसे उत्पन्न हो? मैं भी—हंस-रूप होकर—वह विवेक नहीं पा सका जिससे तत्त्व का यथार्थ बोध हो।
Brahma (reflecting on the limits of knowledge while engaged in creation)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
FAQs
It teaches that jñāna (liberating knowledge) does not arise from desire-driven outward activity; true viveka dawns when the mind turns from pravṛtti toward the Supreme Pati, Shiva.
It implies that creation-oriented ambition cannot yield final clarity; worship of Shiva—often through the Linga as Saguna support—purifies the mind and leads to viveka that culminates in knowledge of Shiva beyond form.
A practical takeaway is to reduce desire-driven agitation and take up Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplative discrimination (viveka) to steady the mind toward moksha.