Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā
सत्त्वेन सर्वगं विष्णुं निर्गुणत्वे महेश्वरम् । तं दृष्ट्वा पुरुषं ब्रह्मा प्रगल्भमिदमब्रवीत्
sattvena sarvagaṃ viṣṇuṃ nirguṇatve maheśvaram | taṃ dṛṣṭvā puruṣaṃ brahmā pragalbhamidamabravīt
सत्त्वगुणाने त्याने सर्वव्यापी विष्णुतत्त्व ओळखले आणि निर्गुण स्वरूपात महेश्वराला जाणले. त्या परम पुरुषाचे दर्शन घेऊन ब्रह्मदेवाने निर्भयपणे हे वचन उच्चारले।
Suta Goswami (narrating; the verse reports Brahmā speaking next)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Doctrinal pivot: sattva reveals Viṣṇu’s all-pervasion (sthiti), while Maheśvara is asserted as nirguṇa—beyond guṇas—implying Śiva’s supremacy as Pati who grants liberating knowledge.
Significance: Hearing/reciting this teaching is framed as jñāna-bhakti that clarifies Pati (nirguṇa Śiva) versus guṇic offices, aiding detachment from pāśa.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Explicit guṇa/nirguṇa discrimination: sattva→Viṣṇu (immanent pervasion), nirguṇa→Maheśvara (transcendent Pati)
FAQs
It distinguishes the guṇa-based apprehension of divinity (Viṣṇu understood through sattva as all-pervading) from Śiva’s nirguṇa supremacy (Maheśvara beyond all qualities), pointing to liberation through realizing Pati (Śiva) as transcendent to the bonds of the guṇas.
Though Śiva is nirguṇa in essence, devotees approach Him through saguna supports such as the Śiva-liṅga and sacred forms; the verse frames saguna perception as a doorway, while affirming that the ultimate truth of Maheśvara is beyond attributes.
Meditate on Śiva as nirguṇa (beyond guṇas) while performing saguna upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” with steady sattvic discipline (purity, restraint, and focused contemplation).