Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 60
सतीचरिते पितृगृहे आशीर्वाद-वचनम् तथा यौवनारम्भः — Satī at her father’s house: blessings and the onset of youth
यथार्चिषोग्नेस्सवितुर्यांति निर्यांति वासकृत् । गभस्तयस्तथायं वै प्रवाहो गौण उच्यते
yathārciṣognessavituryāṃti niryāṃti vāsakṛt | gabhastayastathāyaṃ vai pravāho gauṇa ucyate
正如火焰与日光之芒，似乎发出又复归来，仿佛为风之动所驱；同样，这所谓“流转”（pravāha）也只是从属的譬喻之说。真实中，至上主湿婆恒常不动，而诸相之现起皆在祂的神力之中。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Clarifies apparent motion/causality as gauṇa (figurative): the world-process seems to flow, but the Supreme remains unmoving—supporting viveka and detachment from phenomenal ‘pravāha’.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse teaches that perceived “movement” or continuous change is often only an appearance (gauṇa). Spiritually, it points the devotee toward Śiva as the changeless Pati (Lord) behind all transient phenomena, aiding detachment and steadiness in sādhanā.
The Liṅga symbolizes the stable, unshaken Reality of Śiva. While devotees may worship saguna forms and experience dynamic grace, this verse reminds that the ultimate truth is the unmoving Śiva, with all “flows” of manifestation understood as dependent appearances within His śakti.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on the steady Liṅga with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), observing thoughts and sensations as a ‘pravāha’ that seems continuous but is ultimately secondary—returning awareness to Śiva as the still center.