Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras
यथा पद्मालया विष्णोस्सावित्री च यथा मम । तथा सहचरीं शंभो कांतां गृह्णीष्व संप्रति
yathā padmālayā viṣṇossāvitrī ca yathā mama | tathā sahacarīṃ śaṃbho kāṃtāṃ gṛhṇīṣva saṃprati
“Như Padmālayā (Lakṣmī) là phối ngẫu của Viṣṇu, và như Sāvitrī là phối ngẫu của ta (Brahmā), cũng vậy—hỡi Śambhu—xin Ngài nay nhận một người bạn đời yêu dấu, làm bạn đồng hành thường hằng cho chính mình.”
Brahmā
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights that the Lord’s manifest (saguṇa) play in the world is fulfilled through Śiva’s acceptance of Śakti as His companion—showing that grace, protection of dharma, and guidance to beings arise through their divine unity.
While the Liṅga signifies Śiva beyond form (nirguṇa), this verse emphasizes Śiva’s saguṇa aspect—where the Lord accepts a consort for cosmic order. Devotion may be offered to the Liṅga as Śiva Himself, while also honoring Śakti as inseparable from His manifested worship.
A practical takeaway is to worship Śiva with the awareness of Śiva–Śakti unity—chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves, and meditating on the Liṅga as the auspicious Lord whose grace operates in the world through Śakti.