Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
न यातं ब्रह्मणोऽप्यायुर्ब्रह्मांड क्षयमेति हि । अकाले च तथा नूनं शिवेच्छावशतः स्वयम्
na yātaṃ brahmaṇo'pyāyurbrahmāṃḍa kṣayameti hi | akāle ca tathā nūnaṃ śivecchāvaśataḥ svayam
即便梵天被分配的寿命尚未终尽，宇宙之卵（梵卵、世界）也未至毁灭之期；然而它却在非时、未到定时之先发生——确然唯由湿婆自身至高主宰的意志。
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Cosmic Event: Out-of-cycle disruption of expected cosmic timing (not mahāpralaya; akāla event by Śiva’s will)
FAQs
It asserts Śiva’s supreme lordship (Pati): even when cosmic time (Brahmā’s lifespan and the universe’s dissolution cycle) has not matured, events can unfold solely by Śiva’s independent will, teaching surrender beyond fate and calculation.
The Liṅga signifies Śiva as the timeless ground of the cosmos; worship of Saguna Śiva (as the accessible Lord) is worship of the very power that governs time, karma, and cosmic order—hence ‘before time’ events are still under His mastery.
A practical takeaway is icchā-śaraṇāgati (surrender to Śiva’s will) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with steady dhyāna on Śiva as the inner ruler who transcends timing, fear, and uncertainty.