Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
रजस्सत्त्वतमोरूपो लीलया निर्गुणः स्वतः । का लीला रचिता चाद्य तामिदानीं वद प्रभो
rajassattvatamorūpo līlayā nirguṇaḥ svataḥ | kā līlā racitā cādya tāmidānīṃ vada prabho
Wahai Tuhan, pada hakikat-Mu Engkau Nirguṇa, namun karena līlā Engkau menampakkan wujud rajas, sattva, dan tamas. Līlā apakah yang Engkau tata pada awal mula? Mohon jelaskan kini, wahai Prabhu.
Sanatkumara (inferred, questioning the Lord in the Kumārakhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Mantra: रजस्सत्त्वतमोरूपो लीलया निर्गुणः स्वतः । का लीला रचिता चाद्य तामिदानीं वद प्रभो
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Primordial beginning (ādya) alluding to cosmogony and manifestation of guṇas
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva (Pati) is inherently beyond the three guṇas, yet out of compassion and divine līlā He manifests within guṇic modes to govern creation—guiding bound souls (paśu) toward liberation.
The verse supports Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā) as a merciful access-point: devotees approach Shiva through manifest forms, while understanding that His true essence remains Nirguṇa and transcendent.
Meditate on Shiva as Nirguṇa while chanting the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and perform simple Linga worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to rise beyond rajas, tamas, and even sattva.