Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59
शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)
विजहार तया सत्या दक्षपुत्र्या महेश्वरः । सुखी बभूव देवर्षे लोकाचारपरायणः
vijahāra tayā satyā dakṣaputryā maheśvaraḥ | sukhī babhūva devarṣe lokācāraparāyaṇaḥ
ഹേ ദേവർഷേ, മഹേശ്വരൻ ദക്ഷപുത്രിയായ സതിയോടൊപ്പം ആനന്ദത്തോടെ ക്രീഡിച്ചു; ലോകാചാരധർമ്മം പാലിക്കുന്നതിൽ പരായണനായി അദ്ദേഹം സന്തുഷ്ടനും സുഖിയും ആയി നിലകൊണ്ടു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Śiva’s ‘lokācāra-parāyaṇatā’ (upholding worldly dharma) becomes a template for tīrtha traditions where the Lord models righteous conduct, making pilgrimage not escapism but alignment with dharma.
Significance: Meditating on Śiva as dharma-sustainer grants steadiness in conduct (ācāra), harmony in household life, and devotion that matures toward liberation.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva’s saguna līlā: though transcendental (Pati), He demonstrates ideal dharma within the world, showing that spiritual life is not opposed to righteous conduct and harmonious household responsibility.
By portraying Maheśvara living in accordance with loka-dharma, the Purana encourages devotees to approach Śiva as Saguna—present, compassionate, and relatable—whose grace is sought through orderly living, devotion, and reverence to His forms including the Liṅga.
The practical takeaway is to align daily conduct with dharma while remembering Śiva—e.g., simple japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside regular purity practices such as applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining disciplined, sattvic behavior.