Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
काली-परिचयः / Himagiri Presents Kālī (Pārvatī) to Śiva
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्योन्मील्य नेत्रे महेश्वरः । त्यक्तध्यानः परामृश्य देवदेवोऽब्रवीद्वचः
brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacastasyonmīlya netre maheśvaraḥ | tyaktadhyānaḥ parāmṛśya devadevo'bravīdvacaḥ
梵天说道：听罢他的话，摩诃湿伐罗睁开圣眼。暂置禅定，略作思惟，诸天之主便宣说如下圣言。
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Narrative hinge rather than sthala: Śiva transitions from dhyāna to responsive speech—an archetype for ‘the meditating Lord who grants audience.’
Significance: Encourages pilgrims to see the deity as both yogin (inner stillness) and īśvara (responsive grace) who turns toward the devotee.
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva’s compassionate sovereignty: even when absorbed in deep dhyāna, He turns His awareness outward upon hearing a devotee’s or deity’s appeal, showing that divine grace (anugraha) responds to sincere invocation and right intention.
By portraying Maheśvara opening His eyes and speaking, the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva—God approachable through form, name, and dialogue. Linga-worship similarly treats Śiva as present and responsive, where prayer, abhiṣeka, and mantra lead to a lived relationship with the Lord.
It affirms the value of dhyāna followed by mindful discernment (parāmṛśya). A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with meditation, then offering one’s request or surrender in prayer—supported by simple Śaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.