Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41
शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचो मे हि स्वात्मसर्वसुखावहम् । तथाऽस्त्विति शिवः प्राह सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा
brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vaco me hi svātmasarvasukhāvaham | tathā'stviti śivaḥ prāha suprasannena cetasā
ബ്രഹ്മാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—സ്വാത്മക്ഷേമവും സർവ്വസുഖവും നൽകുന്ന എന്റെ വചനങ്ങൾ ഇങ്ങനെ കേട്ടശേഷം, ശിവൻ പരമപ്രസന്നചിത്തത്തോടെ “തഥാസ്തു” എന്നു അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who, upon hearing a dharmic request that supports the soul’s true welfare, responds with grace—“tathāstu”—showing that liberation-oriented good (svātma-sukha) is fulfilled through Śiva’s pleased, compassionate will.
The verse portrays Saguna Śiva as a responsive, personal Lord who hears and blesses. In Linga-worship, devotees approach Śiva as the accessible form of the Supreme; the ‘tathāstu’ principle reflects the fruit of sincere prayer, pūjā, and surrender receiving Śiva’s anugraha.
Cultivate a “suprasanna” (serene, pleased) mind through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady pūjā; the takeaway is inner purity and devotion that make one fit to receive Śiva’s gracious assent and blessings.