Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath
सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तास्ततो देव्योंतर्हिता अभवन्मुने । रुद्रविष्णुविधीनां हि शक्तयस्त्रिगुणात्मिकाः
sanatkumāra uvāca | ityuktvā tāstato devyoṃtarhitā abhavanmune | rudraviṣṇuvidhīnāṃ hi śaktayastriguṇātmikāḥ
Sanatkumāra thưa: “Nói xong như vậy, hỡi hiền giả, các Nữ Thần ấy liền ẩn mất. Vì các śakti của Rudra (Śiva), Viṣṇu và Vidhī (Brahmā) quả thật mang bản tính của ba guṇa.”
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Role: teaching
FAQs
It distinguishes the Supreme Lord (Rudra as Pati) from the operational divine energies (śaktis) that function through the three guṇas; spiritual progress involves recognizing guṇa-bound activity and turning the mind toward Shiva who grants liberation beyond prakṛti.
Linga/Saguna worship supports the devotee within the guṇas—purifying tamas and rajas and stabilizing sattva—so the mind can approach Rudra with devotion; the verse frames divine manifestations and powers as guṇa-based while Shiva remains the liberating Lord.
A practical takeaway is guṇa-purification through Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), wearing rudrākṣa, and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) to steady the mind in sattva and reduce rajas-tamas.