Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”
गृहीतदारे मदने हृष्टे हि स्वगृहे गते । दक्षे च स्वगृहं याते तथा हि त्वयि कर्तरि
gṛhītadāre madane hṛṣṭe hi svagṛhe gate | dakṣe ca svagṛhaṃ yāte tathā hi tvayi kartari
カーマ（マダナ）が任を受けて歓びつつ自らの住処へ帰り、またダクシャも自宅へ戻ったとき—そのように、行為者なる主（シヴァ）よ、起こりし一切の背後に、至上の主宰として汝は在り続けた。
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as the ultimate Kartā (sovereign agent): even when secondary actors like Kāma and Dakṣa complete their roles, the deeper truth is that all action and its fruition are governed by Pati (Śiva), aligning with the Shaiva Siddhanta view of divine lordship over karma.
Linga worship trains the devotee to see the formless Lord present as the inner ruler of all events. This verse supports Saguna devotion by affirming Śiva’s active lordship (kartṛtva) in the world, while the Linga also points to his transcendent Nirguna reality beyond the actors and actions.
A practical takeaway is Kartṛ-bhāva-śuddhi: while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), contemplate that one’s actions are offered to Śiva and that he alone is the true governor of results—supporting bhakti with inner surrender.