Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा
Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचश्शंभोर्मया च भगवान्हरिः । प्रणिपत्य च विश्वेशं प्राह मंदतरं वशी
brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacaśśaṃbhormayā ca bhagavānhariḥ | praṇipatya ca viśveśaṃ prāha maṃdataraṃ vaśī
梵天曰：如是听闻商婆（Śambhu）之言，我与圣尊诃利（Hari）同向毗湿维沙（Viśveśa，宇宙之主）顶礼俯伏。随后，那自持者诃利以柔和而谦抑之声开口说道。
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The epithet Viśveśa/Viśvanātha (‘Lord of the universe’) resonates with Kāśī’s Jyotirliṅga theology: Śiva as the sovereign bestower of liberation; here, Brahmā and Viṣṇu bow to Viśveśa acknowledging His supremacy in cosmic governance.
Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is traditionally linked with mokṣa and the ‘tāraka’ grace; the verse models śaraṇāgati (prostration) even for the highest deities.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that even cosmic authorities like Brahmā and Viṣṇu respond to Śiva (Śambhu/Viśveśa) with śaraṇāgati—humble surrender—showing Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) worthy of reverence.
By naming Śiva as Viśveśa and showing prostration to Him, the verse supports saguna upāsanā—approaching the Supreme through a worshipful form and title, as in Liṅga-veneration where devotees bow to the Lord present as the universal master.
The practical takeaway is praṇipāta (full prostration) with inner self-control (vaśitva) and gentle speech—an attitude central to mantra-japa and pūjā, including Mahāśivarātri worship.