Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins
त्वमेव चाद्यः पुरुषोऽद्वितीयस्तुर्य आत्मदृक् । ईशो हेतुरहेतुश्च सविकारः प्रतीयसे
tvameva cādyaḥ puruṣo'dvitīyasturya ātmadṛk | īśo heturahetuśca savikāraḥ pratīyase
तूच आद्य पुरुष, अद्वितीय—तुरीय, आत्मद्रष्टा आहेस. तू ईश्वर—कारणही आणि कारणांचा कारणही; तरीही प्रकट रूपात तू विकारयुक्त भासतोस.
Suta Goswami (narrating the hymn/praise spoken in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Meditation on Śiva as advitīya (non-dual Lord) and as both transcendent ‘ahetu’ and immanent ‘hetu’ supports the pilgrim’s integration of nirguṇa-bhāva with temple-based saguna worship.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It affirms Shiva as the non-dual Supreme (Pati)—the inner Witness beyond the three states (turya). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it points to Shiva as the sovereign reality who grants liberation when the soul turns inward to the Self-seeing Lord.
The verse reconciles Nirguna and Saguna: Shiva is causeless and transcendent, yet is perceived with ‘vikāra’ through His manifested forms. Linga-worship helps the devotee approach the formless Supreme through a sacred, concentrated symbol of His presence.
Meditate on Shiva as Ātmadṛk (inner Witness) while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and remembrance of the Lord beyond the three states.