Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”
इदं स्वरूपं भवतो दृष्ट्वा पूर्वं यथात्र वाम् । नाप्नुयात्साऽथ किंचिद्वै ततो रूपांतरं कुरु
idaṃ svarūpaṃ bhavato dṛṣṭvā pūrvaṃ yathātra vām | nāpnuyātsā'tha kiṃcidvai tato rūpāṃtaraṃ kuru
她先前已在此见过你这同一形相，如今再见也得不到新的所得；因此，请你示现另一种形相。
Lord Śiva (inferred within the Satī Khaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s freedom to manifest forms for the devotee’s upliftment: the same external form is not the goal—inner recognition of Śiva (Pati) beyond appearances leads the soul (paśu) toward liberation.
It supports Saguna worship as compassionate accommodation—Śiva may reveal varied forms for devotion—while the Liṅga points to the timeless reality beyond any single form, guiding the devotee from form to essence.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva’s chosen form (iṣṭa-rūpa) while remembering His formless truth—paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize devotion beyond changing visions.