Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58
देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
विष्णुरुवाच । शृणु त्वं वीरभद्राद्य प्रवक्ष्यामि त्वदग्रतः । न रुद्रविमुखं मां त्वं वद शंकरसेवकम्
viṣṇuruvāca | śṛṇu tvaṃ vīrabhadrādya pravakṣyāmi tvadagrataḥ | na rudravimukhaṃ māṃ tvaṃ vada śaṃkarasevakam
وِشنو نے کہا—اے ویربھدر اور دیگران! سنو، میں تمہارے سامنے کہتا ہوں۔ مجھے رُدر سے روگرداں نہ کہو؛ مجھے شنکر کا خادمِ مخلص جانو۔
Lord Vishnu
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Viṣṇu’s self-identification as Śaṅkara-sevaka resonates with Kāśī’s doctrine that all gods honor Viśveśvara; liberation is granted by Śiva’s grace beyond sectarian rivalry (contextual, not explicit in verse).
Significance: Affirms Śiva’s supremacy and the ideal of humility before Śaṅkara; supports bhakti as the path to grace (anugraha).
Type: stotra
FAQs
It affirms humility and right devotion: even Viṣṇu declares himself devoted to Rudra, teaching that honoring Śiva (Pati) dissolves ego and aligns the soul (paśu) with liberation-oriented bhakti.
By identifying as “Śaṅkara’s servant,” Viṣṇu models saguna-upāsanā—personal devotion to Śiva as the accessible Lord, which in the Purāṇic frame includes reverence to Śiva’s forms such as the Liṅga.
The takeaway is sevā-bhāva (devotional service) and reverent speech about Rudra; practically, it supports daily Śiva-japa (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and respectful participation in Śiva-pūjā rather than sectarian denigration.