Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva
and Śiva’s Gracious Response
सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतस्मिन्नंतरे शंभुं प्रसन्नं वीक्ष्य दानवः । तत्राजगाम सुप्रीतो मयोऽदग्धः कृपाबलात्
sanatkumāra uvāca | etasminnaṃtare śaṃbhuṃ prasannaṃ vīkṣya dānavaḥ | tatrājagāma suprīto mayo'dagdhaḥ kṛpābalāt
Sanatkumāra thưa: Trong lúc ấy, thấy Śambhu (Đức Śiva) hiền hòa và an nhiên, Dānava Māyā—kẻ không bị thiêu đốt nhờ sức mạnh lòng từ bi của Śiva—hân hoan đến nơi đó.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Highlights the doctrine that even a dānava can be preserved and transformed by Śiva’s kṛpā; reinforces universality of Śiva’s grace beyond sectarian or moral binaries.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as Śambhu—the auspicious Lord whose compassion (kṛpā) can override destruction, showing that divine grace is a decisive force in the soul’s destiny, not merely the outcome of conflict.
By portraying Śiva as visibly “prasanna” (gracious and approachable), the verse supports Saguna devotion—worshiping Śiva as a personal Lord who bestows prasāda; this same gracious presence is traditionally accessed through Linga worship.
The takeaway is to seek Śiva’s prasāda through steady bhakti—japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a calm, surrendered mind—since grace, not force, is emphasized as transformative.