Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 64
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
त्वमेव सृज दुःखाढ्याः प्रजास्सर्वाः प्रजापते । मदाज्ञया न बद्धस्त्वं मायया संभविष्यसि
tvameva sṛja duḥkhāḍhyāḥ prajāssarvāḥ prajāpate | madājñayā na baddhastvaṃ māyayā saṃbhaviṣyasi
“Tu somente, ó Prajāpati, cria todos os seres, abundantes em sofrimento. Por Minha ordem não serás atado por Māyā; manifestar-te-ás como criador sem te enredares.”
Lord Shiva (as Pati, the Supreme Lord) addressing Prajāpati Brahmā
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Cosmic Event: sarga (delegated creation under Śiva’s command; māyā as binding principle for paśu)
FAQs
It establishes Shiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) who commands creation while remaining beyond Māyā, and it shows that even Brahmā performs cosmic creation only by Shiva’s authorization—highlighting Shaiva Siddhanta’s distinction between the bound souls (paśu) and the Lord who is never bound.
The verse points to Shiva as the sovereign source behind all manifestation; worship of the Liṅga (Saguna symbol of the transcendent) trains the devotee to see creation as operating under Shiva’s will, and to seek refuge in Him who stands untouched by Māyā.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation that Shiva alone is beyond Māyā; supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to transcend sorrow-born bondage.