Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
गायन्हसन्प्ररुदन्नृत्यमानो विलेलिहानो घरघोरघोषः । जातेन तेनाद्भुतदर्शनेन गौरीं भवोऽसौ स्मितपूर्वमाह
gāyanhasanprarudannṛtyamāno vilelihāno gharaghoraghoṣaḥ | jātena tenādbhutadarśanena gaurīṃ bhavo'sau smitapūrvamāha
歌い、笑い、やがて泣きつつ、彼は舞い続けた——唇を舐め、雷鳴のごとき恐ろしき轟音をあげて咆哮した。その驚異の光景を見て、バヴァなる主（シヴァ）はまず微笑み、ついでガウリー（パールヴァティー）に語りかけた。
Suta Goswami (narrating the events; the verse sets up Shiva speaking to Parvati)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights how awe, fear, and wonder can arise before powerful manifestations, yet Śiva remains the calm, compassionate Lord (Pati) who responds with a smile—guiding the devotee (Pāśu) from emotional turbulence toward insight and steadiness.
It reflects Saguna Śiva—who appears with dynamic, even terrifying energies—yet is inwardly benevolent and self-mastered. In Linga worship, devotees approach the same Lord through a stable, accessible form, learning to see the compassionate reality behind intense appearances.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) when confronted by fear or agitation, remembering Śiva’s smile as assurance; this aligns with bhakti-centered concentration rather than reacting to outer spectacle.