Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्
Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas
ज्ञात्वा च तत्सर्वमिदं भविष्यं सतीकृतं दुष्प्रसहं परेषाम् । गताः स्वलोकं स्वगणान्वितास्तु स्मृत्वा शिवं सर्वपतिं स्वतंत्रम्
jñātvā ca tatsarvamidaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ satīkṛtaṃ duṣprasahaṃ pareṣām | gatāḥ svalokaṃ svagaṇānvitāstu smṛtvā śivaṃ sarvapatiṃ svataṃtram
Mengetahui segala yang bakal terjadi—masa depan yang terwujud melalui Satī, yang tidak dapat ditentang oleh sesiapa pun—para pengiring itu, bersama kumpulan masing-masing, kembali ke alam mereka sendiri, sambil mengingati Śiva, Tuhan Yang Maha Merdeka, Penguasa tertinggi segala-galanya.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The verse sits within the Dakṣa-yajña cycle: Satī’s agency precipitates the turning of events, and Śiva’s svātantrya (independence) is remembered by the gaṇas as they return to their spheres.
Mantra: śivaṃ sarvapatiṃ svataṃtram
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva as “svatantra” (absolutely independent) and “sarvapati” (Lord of all), teaching that events unfold under divine sovereignty, and that remembrance of Śiva is a stabilizing, liberating act even amid inevitable karmic turns.
Remembering Śiva as the supreme Lord aligns with Saguna devotion—worshipping Śiva with form and qualities (as Pati and protector). In Linga-worship, the devotee similarly centers the mind on Śiva’s lordship and presence, allowing all circumstances to be spiritually integrated.
A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady attention, especially during upheaval, as a simple meditative discipline consistent with Shaiva devotion.