Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast
विशरीरो यथाजीवो विशृङ्गो वा यथा वृषः । विदंष्ट्रश्च यथा सिंहस्तथा विष्णुरवस्थितः
viśarīro yathājīvo viśṛṅgo vā yathā vṛṣaḥ | vidaṃṣṭraśca yathā siṃhastathā viṣṇuravasthitaḥ
Assim como um ser vivo sem corpo fica impotente, como um touro sem chifres se torna ineficaz e como um leão sem presas se enfraquece—assim também Viṣṇu, sem Śiva, permanece sem poder e sem efeito.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it is a doctrinal simile-chain asserting dependence of even Viṣṇu upon Śiva, analogous to a jīva’s dependence on embodiment and instruments.
Significance: Doctrinal fruit (jñāna-phala): firm conviction (niścaya) in Śiva as Pati, the indispensable ground of all powers; supports śaraṇāgati and steadies bhakti.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It asserts Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose grace empowers all cosmic functions; without Śiva’s sanction and śakti, even great divine roles become like strength without its instruments—present in name but ineffective for liberation.
By emphasizing dependence on Śiva, it supports Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship as the direct means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace), through which all other forms of devotion and divine powers become spiritually fruitful.
A practical takeaway is to center daily sādhanā on Śiva—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, and (where customary) Śiva-pūjā with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadfast remembrance.