Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode
Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall
तदेव शृणु विष्णोश्च चरितं प्रमुदावहम् । शिवशासनकर्तुश्च मातुश्च जगतां हरेः
tadeva śṛṇu viṣṇośca caritaṃ pramudāvaham | śivaśāsanakartuśca mātuśca jagatāṃ hareḥ
Portanto, escuta esse relato, doador de bem-aventurança, acerca de Viṣṇu: como ele se tornou o executor do mandamento de Śiva e como, sendo Hari, sustentador dos mundos, agiu em relação à Mãe do universo.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: The verse explicitly subordinates Viṣṇu’s action to Śiva’s śāsana (command), a key Siddhānta marker of Śiva as pati; hearing such hierarchy is itself framed as pramudāvaha (joy-giving), strengthening śaraṇāgati at Śiva-kṣetras.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights that even Viṣṇu’s celebrated deeds become spiritually joyful when understood as aligned with Śiva’s supreme ordinance—affirming Śiva as the ultimate Lord (Pati) whose command sustains cosmic order.
By presenting Śiva as the giver of command and the highest authority, it supports Saguna Śiva devotion: worship of Śiva (including the Liṅga) is portrayed as reverence to the supreme governor whose will is carried out by other deities.
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) is implied—hearing Śiva-centered Purāṇic narration with faith; it pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating all divine functions as proceeding from Śiva’s ājñā.