Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50
नारदतपोवर्णनम्
Nārada’s Austerities Described
यत्कर्तव्यं शंकरस्य स ज्ञात्वा विश्वपालकः । शिवशासनतः प्राह हृदाथ मुनिसत्तमम्
yatkartavyaṃ śaṃkarasya sa jñātvā viśvapālakaḥ | śivaśāsanataḥ prāha hṛdātha munisattamam
ശങ്കരനുവേണ്ടി ചെയ്യേണ്ടത് എന്തെന്നു അറിഞ്ഞ്, വിശ്വപാലകൻ (വിഷ്ണു) ശിവാജ്ഞപ്രകാരം ഹൃദയത്തിൽ നിന്നു ശ്രേഷ്ഠ മുനിയോടു പറഞ്ഞു।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) whose ordinance guides even the cosmic preserver; true dharma is aligning one’s action with Śiva’s command, performed sincerely “from the heart.”
By stressing “Śiva’s command,” the verse supports Saguna devotion—seeing Śiva as the personal Lord who directs creation and preservation—an attitude central to Linga-worship where the devotee submits will and action to Śiva.
A practical takeaway is śiva-ājñā-anusaraṇa (living by Śiva’s ordinance): daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with heartfelt intention, offering one’s duties to Śiva as worship.