Shloka 21
Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ
Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation
तस्माच्चतुर्गुणः प्रोक्तः शिव एव मुनीश्वराः । स एव सगुणो ज्ञेयः शक्तिमत्त्वाद्द्विधापि सः
tasmāccaturguṇaḥ proktaḥ śiva eva munīśvarāḥ | sa eva saguṇo jñeyaḥ śaktimattvāddvidhāpi saḥ
അതുകൊണ്ട്, ഹേ മുനീശ്വരന്മാരേ, ശിവൻ തന്നെയാണ് ചതുര്വിധനെന്ന് പ്രസ്താവിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. അവൻ സഗുണനായി അറിയപ്പെടണം; ശക്തിയുള്ളതിനാൽ അവൻ പ്രകടനത്തിൽ ദ്വിവിധനുമാകുന്നു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
FAQs
The verse teaches that the Supreme Lord Shiva is not limited to a single description: He is spoken of as “fourfold” and also as manifest in duality through Śakti. For devotees, this frames Shiva as the transcendent Pati who can still be approached in a knowable, worshipful form for liberation.
By saying Shiva is to be known as Saguna due to His Śakti, the text supports icon-and-Linga worship: the Lord graciously assumes attributes and forms so the bound soul (paśu) can concentrate, serve, and realize Him, while His highest nature remains beyond limitation.
A practical takeaway is Saguna upāsanā: worship Shiva with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and meditation on Shiva united with Śakti—using Linga-dhyāna, vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra), and Rudrāksha as supportive disciplines where appropriate.