Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode
Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall
ततस्तां रुदतीं दृष्ट्वा स विष्णुः परमेश्वरः । सस्मार शंकरं देवं येन संमोहितं जगत्
tatastāṃ rudatīṃ dṛṣṭvā sa viṣṇuḥ parameśvaraḥ | sasmāra śaṃkaraṃ devaṃ yena saṃmohitaṃ jagat
Bấy giờ, thấy nàng khóc, đức Viṣṇu—bậc Chúa tể tối thượng—liền tưởng niệm (thỉnh gọi) Deva Śaṅkara, nhờ thần lực của Ngài mà toàn thế gian bị che phủ trong mê mờ và vận hành theo định mệnh.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights that even Viṣṇu turns inward to Śaṅkara—acknowledging Shiva as the lord of the power that veils and unveils reality—implying that liberation arises when moha (bewilderment) is transcended through Shiva-remembrance and grace.
“Remembering Śaṅkara” points to saguna-upāsanā—devotional contemplation of Shiva with attributes. In practice, devotees express this remembrance through Linga worship, mantra-japa, and offerings, seeking Shiva’s guidance to remove delusion and restore dharma.
Śiva-smaraṇa through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) is the direct takeaway; it can be supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and Shaiva identity in daily sādhanā.