Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras
त्वं वा विष्णुरहं वापि शिवस्य ब्रह्मरूपिणः । अंशभूता महाभागा योग्यं तदनुचिंतनम्
tvaṃ vā viṣṇurahaṃ vāpi śivasya brahmarūpiṇaḥ | aṃśabhūtā mahābhāgā yogyaṃ tadanuciṃtanam
നീ വിഷ്ണുവായാലും, ഞാനും വിഷ്ണുവായാലും—ഹേ മഹാഭാഗ! നാം ഇരുവരും ബ്രഹ്മസ്വരൂപനായ ശിവന്റെ അംശമാത്രം; അതിനാൽ ആ തത്ത്വത്തെ പുനഃപുനഃ അനുചിന്തനം ചെയ്യുന്നത് യുക്തമാണ്।
Brahmā (inferred, Satīkhaṇḍa dialogue context addressing Viṣṇu)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that Brahmā and Viṣṇu are not independent supremes but partial manifestations (aṃśas) of Śiva, who is Brahman; liberation-oriented practice begins with steady contemplation of this highest principle (Pati-tattva).
By affirming Śiva as Brahman, it grounds Liṅga-worship as a saguna support for meditating on the nirguna truth—devotion to the Liṅga becomes a means to realize Śiva’s supreme, all-pervading reality.
The verse explicitly recommends anucintana—repeated contemplation—practically done through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused meditation on Śiva/Śiva-liṅga as the one Brahman.