Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9
शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)
अहं च ज्ञानविभ्रष्टो जातोहं सत्यमीर्य्यते । दातुं सुतां महेशाय नेच्छामि भिक्षुरूपिणे । ब्रह्मोवाचैत्युक्त्वा शैलराजस्तु शिवमायाविमोहितः । तूष्णीं बभूव तत्रस्थो मुनीनां मध्यतो मुने
ahaṃ ca jñānavibhraṣṭo jātohaṃ satyamīryyate | dātuṃ sutāṃ maheśāya necchāmi bhikṣurūpiṇe | brahmovācaityuktvā śailarājastu śivamāyāvimohitaḥ | tūṣṇīṃ babhūva tatrastho munīnāṃ madhyato mune
“Ta cũng đã trở thành kẻ bị mê lầm trong sự phân biệt—điều ấy thật vậy. Ta không muốn gả con gái cho Maheśa khi Ngài mang hình tướng kẻ khất thực.” Brahmā nói: Nói xong, chúa tể núi non—bị Śiva-māyā làm mê hoặc—đứng giữa các hiền thánh, hỡi bậc Muni, rồi lặng thinh.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It shows how Śiva’s māyā can veil even noble judgment, and how worldly criteria (status, appearance) can obstruct recognition of the Supreme Pati; the devotee is guided toward surrender and right discernment rather than external evaluation.
Śiva appears in a humble, saguna (perceivable) guise to test devotion and ego; similarly, Linga-worship trains the mind to see the Supreme beyond form and social markers, honoring Śiva as Pati regardless of outward appearance.
A practical takeaway is cultivating humility and steadiness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Śiva-pūjā (bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa with devotion), so discernment is not shaken by māyā and appearances.