Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
शिवदूतस्य शङ्खचूडकुलप्रवेशः — The Śiva-Envoy’s Entry into Śaṅkhacūḍa’s City
सामान्यममरं तं नो विद्धि दानवसत्तम । शंकरः परमात्मा हि सर्वेषामीश्वरेश्वरः
sāmānyamamaraṃ taṃ no viddhi dānavasattama | śaṃkaraḥ paramātmā hi sarveṣāmīśvareśvaraḥ
โอผู้ประเสริฐแห่งทานวะ จงรู้เถิดว่า ผู้นั้นมิใช่ ‘อมตะ’ ธรรมดา; ศังกระคือปรมาตมัน เป็นเจ้าเหนือเจ้าแห่งสรรพทั้งปวง।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa dialogue; the verse functions as a doctrinal assertion of Śiva’s supremacy within the battle context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Doctrinal śravaṇa of Śiva as Paramātmā and Īśvareśvara is itself treated in Purāṇic idiom as merit-giving: it turns the mind from deva/asura power to the Supreme Lord, preparing for bhakti and grace.
Mantra: śaṃkaraḥ paramātmā hi sarveṣām īśvareśvaraḥ
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis: Śiva (Śaṅkara) is not merely one powerful deva but the Paramātmā—Pati, the supreme Lord who transcends and governs all other rulers.
Calling Śaṅkara “Īśvareśvara” supports Linga/Saguna worship as worship of the Supreme itself—an accessible form through which devotees approach the transcendent Paramātmā, not a secondary deity among many.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as “Īśvareśvara” while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the Supreme Lord rather than fear of worldly powers.