Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 26
Harīśvara-liṅga Mahimā and the Origin-Context of Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana (हरिश्वरलिङ्गमहिमा तथा सुदर्शनप्राप्तिकथा)
विष्णुरुवाच । वाच्यं किं मे त्वदग्रे वै ह्यन्तर्यामी त्वमास्थितः । तथापि कथ्यते नाथ तव शासनगौरवात्
viṣṇuruvāca | vācyaṃ kiṃ me tvadagre vai hyantaryāmī tvamāsthitaḥ | tathāpi kathyate nātha tava śāsanagauravāt
毗湿奴说：“当您作为内在的主宰存在于万物之中时，我在您面前还能说什么呢？然而，主啊，出于对您旨意威严的敬畏，我仍要进言。”
Vishnu
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse expresses bhakti-filled humility: even Viṣṇu acknowledges Śiva as Antaryāmī (the indwelling Lord), implying that all knowledge and speech arise within Śiva’s presence; speaking becomes an act of obedience and reverence to Pati (the Supreme Lord).
Calling Śiva the Antaryāmī points to His nirguṇa transcendence, while addressing Him as “Nātha” supports saguna devotion; Linga-worship harmonizes both—worshipping the visible sign while contemplating the indwelling, all-pervading Śiva.
A practical takeaway is inner recollection (smaraṇa) of Śiva as Antaryāmī while chanting the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so that speech and action are offered as obedience to Śiva’s śāsana (divine ordinance).