Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39
सृष्टिक्रमवर्णनम् / Description of the Sequence of Creation
अंतस्तमो बहिस्सत्त्वो विष्णूरुद्रस्तथा मतः । अंतस्सत्त्वस्तमोबाह्यो रजोहं सर्वेथा मुने
aṃtastamo bahissattvo viṣṇūrudrastathā mataḥ | aṃtassattvastamobāhyo rajohaṃ sarvethā mune
ഹേ മുനേ, വിഷ്ണുവും രുദ്രനും അകത്ത് തമസും പുറത്തു സത്ത്വവും ഉള്ളവരെന്നു കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു; എന്നാൽ ഞാൻ സർവ്വഥാ രജസ്സ്—അകത്ത് സത്ത്വം, പുറത്തു തമസ്സ്.
Brahmā (narrating creation-tattva to a sage, traditionally Nārada)
Tattva Level: pasha
Cosmic Event: guṇa-traya differentiation in the sṛṣṭi narrative
FAQs
It frames cosmic functions through the three guṇas: creation is rajasic, while preservation and dissolution can appear as mixed guṇas. From a Shaiva lens, these guṇas belong to prakṛti and bind the soul; liberation comes by turning to Śiva as Pati, who is beyond the guṇas.
Because guṇas color the mind, the Purana points the seeker to Saguna Śiva—especially the Liṅga—as a stable focus that purifies rajas and tamas and leads the devotee toward the realization of Śiva’s transcendence (nirguṇa) beyond all guṇas.
Cultivate sattva and restrain rajas/tamas through regular Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a daily reminder to burn impurity and steady the mind.