Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation
शिवया रमते स्वैरं शिवलोके मनोरमे । स्वतंत्रः परमात्मा हि निर्गुणस्सगुणोऽपि वै
śivayā ramate svairaṃ śivaloke manorame | svataṃtraḥ paramātmā hi nirguṇassaguṇo'pi vai
この上なく麗しきシヴァ界において、主はシヴァー（パールヴァティー）と共に自在にリーラーを楽しまれる。至上の自己はまことに独立自在であり、ニルグナ（無属性）でありながら、またサグナ（有属性）としても顕現する。
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches Śiva’s svatantratva (absolute freedom): though transcendent as nirguṇa, He compassionately becomes knowable as saguṇa, allowing devotees to relate through form, līlā, and grace while pointing beyond form to liberation.
By affirming that the Supreme is also saguṇa, the verse supports worship through tangible symbols like the Śiva-liṅga and personal forms of Śiva—accessible means for devotion—while remembering that His ultimate reality also transcends all attributes.
Meditate on Śiva as both nirguṇa and saguṇa while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering bilva leaves to the liṅga, holding the insight that form-based worship leads the mind toward the formless Supreme.