Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle
मया यमः कृतो योद्धा वह्निश्च कृतको महान् । वरुणश्चापि गोपालो गवां पालयिता तथा
mayā yamaḥ kṛto yoddhā vahniśca kṛtako mahān | varuṇaścāpi gopālo gavāṃ pālayitā tathā
“Sa pamamagitan ko, si Yama ay ginawang mandirigma; at si Agni man ay ginawa kong dakila bilang itinalagang kapangyarihan. Si Varuṇa rin ay naging pastol ng mga baka—tunay na tagapagtanggol at tagapag-ingat ng kawan.”
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It presents Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) who assigns roles to cosmic powers—showing that even mighty deities operate by Shiva’s sanction, guiding the soul from disorder toward dharma and ultimately liberation.
In Shaiva understanding, the Liṅga signifies Shiva as the transcendent source from whom all functions arise; worship of Saguna Shiva recognizes Him as the conscious governor who empowers deities like Yama, Agni, and Varuṇa to carry out universal order.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with the intent of aligning one’s life with dharma and restraint (yama-niyama).