Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्
Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion
ब्रह्मोवाच । सुप्ते नारायणे देवे नाभौ पंकजमुत्तमम् । आविर्बभूव सहसा बहव संकरेच्छया
brahmovāca | supte nārāyaṇe deve nābhau paṃkajamuttamam | āvirbabhūva sahasā bahava saṃkarecchayā
梵天说道：当主那罗延那安住于瑜伽之眠时，在祂的脐中忽然显现一朵无上莲华——由商羯罗（湿婆）之意志所生，为展开种种创造而现。
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: creative
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: yoga-nidrā of Nārāyaṇa; emergence of the navel-lotus as a cosmogonic event
FAQs
It teaches that even when creation appears to arise through Nārāyaṇa’s cosmic state, the deeper initiating sovereignty belongs to Śaṅkara (Pati), whose will sets sṛṣṭi in motion—highlighting Shiva’s supreme governance in the Shaiva Siddhanta frame.
By attributing the emergence of the creative lotus to Śaṅkara’s will, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship: devotees honor Shiva as the manifest Lord who directs cosmic functions (including Brahmā’s creation), which is symbolically centered in Linga worship as the supreme, all-supporting reality.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Shiva as the inner controller (antaryāmin) of all cosmic processes, supported by japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate surrender to the will of Śaṅkara behind creation.