Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56
विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्
Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion
नारायणोऽपि विश्वात्मा सुश्वेतो ह्यभवत्तदा । दश योजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतम्
nārāyaṇo'pi viśvātmā suśveto hyabhavattadā | daśa yojanavistīrṇaṃ śatayojanamāyatam
ครั้งนั้นนารายณ์ผู้เป็นอาตมันแห่งสากล ก็ปรากฏกายขาวผ่องยิ่งนัก และทรงกายมหึมาแห่งจักรวาล กว้างสิบโยชน์ ยาวร้อยโยชน์
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa account to the sages)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Cosmic Event: cosmic expansion into virāṭ-like measure during creation narrative
FAQs
It portrays a saguna (manifest) transformation of Nārāyaṇa into a radiant, immense cosmic form, emphasizing that even the great deities assume measurable forms within creation—while the Supreme Pati (Śiva) ultimately transcends measure.
By highlighting a deity’s vast yet bounded form, the verse indirectly points to the Śiva-liṅga as a concentrated, worshipful symbol of the immeasurable Reality—Saguna worship leading the mind toward Nirguna Śiva beyond all dimensions.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on divine radiance (śukla-tejas) while reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using the imagery of vastness to expand awareness beyond the limited ego.