Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
तस्योपविष्टस्य तपस्विनोपि सुचारुरूपा तरुणी मनोज्ञा । नारी शुभा पार्श्वगता हि तस्य दृष्टा च काचिद्भुवि रत्नभूता
tasyopaviṣṭasya tapasvinopi sucārurūpā taruṇī manojñā | nārī śubhā pārśvagatā hi tasya dṛṣṭā ca kācidbhuvi ratnabhūtā
ആ തപസ്വി ഉപവിഷ്ടനായിരിക്കെ, അവൻ തന്റെ പാർശ്വത്തിൽ ഒരു ശുഭനാരിയെ കണ്ടു—യൗവനവതി, മനോഹരി, അതിസുന്ദരി. അവൾ ഭൂമിയിൽ രത്നരൂപമായി പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടതുപോലെ തോന്നി.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights how even a tapasvin may encounter striking appearances; the Shaiva message is to maintain discrimination (viveka) and steadiness in tapas, seeing all phenomena as dependent manifestations under the Lord (Pati), not as the Self.
It contrasts shifting, sense-pleasing forms with the stable refuge of Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upasana—which trains the mind to rest in Shiva as the constant support beyond alluring appearances.
Strengthen japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna and sense-restraint; supporting disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha can be adopted to stabilize focus during tapas.