Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्
Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods
तदाप्रभृति लक्ष्मीशो गोपवेषोभवत्तथा । अयासीत्तत्र सुप्रीत्या गोपगोपोगवां पतिः
tadāprabhṛti lakṣmīśo gopaveṣobhavattathā | ayāsīttatra suprītyā gopagopogavāṃ patiḥ
Từ đó về sau, Đấng là phu quân của Lakṣmī mang hình tướng người chăn bò. Với niềm hoan hỷ lớn lao, Ngài đến nơi ấy—đấng che chở các mục đồng và là chúa tể đàn bò—do lòng sùng kính đầy thương mến.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Sthala Purana: The verse uses pastoral disguise (gopa-veṣa) as a narrative device of divine concealment; not tied to a specific jyotirliṅga episode here.
Significance: Contemplation of ‘tirodhāna’—the Lord’s veiling through forms—supports humility and surrender, seeing divine play in ordinary guises.
Shakti Form: Lalitā
FAQs
It highlights how even the highest divinity adopts humility and service (a simple cowherd guise) to uphold dharma; in Shaiva framing, this models bhakti and surrender as supportive means toward Shiva’s grace.
The verse emphasizes devotion expressed through accessible forms and roles; similarly, Saguna Shiva worship—especially through the Liṅga—gives a concrete focus for reverence, humility, and loving approach to the Supreme.
Adopt a mood of humble service and devotion while doing japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); let outer simplicity mirror inner surrender, as the verse praises affectionate, joyful approach.