Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32
विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्
Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission
सांबिकोऽपि शिवो व्यास क्रीडित्वा सुविहारवित् । जगाम स्वालयं प्रीतस्सगणो भक्तवत्सलः
sāṃbiko'pi śivo vyāsa krīḍitvā suvihāravit | jagāma svālayaṃ prītassagaṇo bhaktavatsalaḥ
โอ้พระวยาส พระศิวะพร้อมด้วยพระอัมพิกา ครั้นทรงกีฬาสนุกและเสด็จประพาสอย่างรื่นรมย์แล้ว ก็ทรงปีติ เสด็จกลับสู่พระนิวาสของพระองค์ พร้อมหมู่คณะคณะ (คณะ) เพราะพระองค์ทรงเมตตาต่อภักตะเสมอ
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages, addressing Vyasa within the narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it frames Śiva’s līlā with Ambikā and His return to His own abode with gaṇas, emphasizing bhakta-vātsalya.
Significance: Models the Siddhānta theme that the Lord is personally accessible and responsive to devotion; remembrance of such līlā is treated as merit-bearing (puṇya) and fear-dispelling in the surrounding verses.
Shakti Form: Ambikā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s saguna-līlā: though transcendent as Pati (the Lord), He lovingly engages in divine play with Ambikā and returns with His gaṇas, emphasizing His accessible, devotee-protecting nature (bhakta-vatsala).
The verse supports saguna-upāsanā: devotees may approach Śiva as the personal Lord who acts, rejoices, and blesses—an outlook that naturally flows into Linga worship as the revered, approachable form of the same Supreme.
A practical takeaway is bhakti with remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva’s compassionate nature—reciting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Him as bhakta-vatsala and offering simple worship (lamp, water, bilva) to the Linga.