Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 68
विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्
Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion
जानीवो न हि ते रूपं योऽसियोऽसि महाप्रभो । नमोऽस्तु ते महेशान रूपं दर्शय नौ त्वरन्
jānīvo na hi te rūpaṃ yo'siyo'si mahāprabho | namo'stu te maheśāna rūpaṃ darśaya nau tvaran
Ôi Mahāprabhu, chúng con thật chẳng biết hình tướng của Ngài—Ngài là như thế nào, đúng như tự thể ấy. Kính đảnh lễ Ngài, ôi Maheśāna; xin mau hiển lộ thánh tướng cho chúng con.
Brahmā (addressing Lord Śiva/Rudra during the creation narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: namo'stu te maheśāna rūpaṃ darśaya nau tvaran
Type: stotra
Cosmic Event: pre-creational theophany within the sṛṣṭi narrative; the Lord’s form remains concealed (tirodhāna) until revelation
FAQs
It expresses the Shaiva insight that Śiva’s true nature surpasses conceptual grasp; the devotee admits limitation and seeks direct revelation (darśana) through surrender.
Since the Lord’s ultimate nature is difficult to define, devotees approach Him through a revealable, worship-worthy manifestation—such as the Liṅga or a chosen saguna form—requesting Śiva to ‘show’ Himself in a graspable way.
A simple takeaway is prayerful japa and devotion: repeat “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplate Śiva as both beyond form and kindly manifesting as form, and inwardly request His darśana with humility.