Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”
स्तुतश्चैवं सुरेन्द्राद्यैर्विष्णोर्जाप्येन चेश्वरः । अगच्छत्तत्र सर्वेशो वृषमारुह्य हर्षितः
stutaścaivaṃ surendrādyairviṣṇorjāpyena ceśvaraḥ | agacchattatra sarveśo vṛṣamāruhya harṣitaḥ
Demikianlah dipuji oleh Indra dan para dewa yang lain, serta melalui japa-mantra penuh hormat oleh Viṣṇu, Tuhan—Īśvara, Penguasa Tertinggi segala-galanya—dengan sukacita menaiki Lembu Suci (Nandī) lalu berangkat ke tempat itu.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
The verse highlights that sincere stuti (praise) and japa (mantra-recitation)—even when offered by great gods like Indra and Viṣṇu—move Śiva, the Sarveśvara, to respond with grace. In Shaiva understanding, devotion and remembrance draw the Lord’s compassionate presence into the world’s events.
Here Śiva is approached as Saguna Īśvara—an accessible, responsive Lord who can be praised and who acts in the cosmic narrative. Such devotion parallels Liṅga-worship, where the devotee offers stotra and japa to invoke Śiva’s anugraha (grace) in a tangible, worshipful form.
The verse implicitly recommends mantra-japa and stotra-pāṭha as effective devotional disciplines. A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a prayerful attitude, aligning the mind with Śiva before undertaking important actions.