Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
अध्याय ५५ — बाणस्य पुनर्युद्धप्रवृत्तिः
Bāṇa’s Renewed Engagement in Battle
एवं द्वयोश्चिरं काल बभूव सुमहान्रणः । शिवरूपो हरिः कृष्णः स च शैवोत्तमो बली
evaṃ dvayościraṃ kāla babhūva sumahānraṇaḥ | śivarūpo hariḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sa ca śaivottamo balī
Demikianlah, untuk waktu yang lama berkecamuklah pertempuran yang amat besar antara keduanya. Hari—Kṛṣṇa—tampak dalam rupa serta keagungan Śiva, tampil sebagai Śaiva yang paling utama dan seorang pahlawan yang perkasa.
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
FAQs
It highlights Hari-Hara unity: even Hari (Kṛṣṇa) manifests with Śiva’s majesty and is praised as a foremost Śaiva, teaching that true greatness culminates in devotion to Pati (Śiva) and alignment with His will.
By calling Kṛṣṇa “śiva-rūpa,” the text affirms Saguna Śiva’s manifest power and presence—devotees may worship Śiva through the Liṅga as the accessible form of that supreme reality, which even the gods honor.
The takeaway is to cultivate Śiva-bhakti as the highest strength: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa supports steadiness and devotion amid life’s inner ‘battle.’