Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva
and Śiva’s Gracious Response
सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याज्ञां शिरसाधाय शंकरस्य महात्मनः । तं प्रणम्य सुरांश्चापि वितलं प्रजगाम सः
sanatkumāra uvāca | ityājñāṃ śirasādhāya śaṃkarasya mahātmanaḥ | taṃ praṇamya surāṃścāpi vitalaṃ prajagāma saḥ
萨那特库玛罗说道：“于是，他领受大心者商羯罗（Śaṅkara）之命，恭敬顶戴于首；复礼拜彼尊与诸天，便启程前往毗多罗（Vitala）。”
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Cosmic Event: Transmission of divine command through a jñānin-sage narrator (Sanatkumāra)
FAQs
The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): receiving Śiva’s command as supreme, honoring it “on the head,” and moving forward without ego—an essential Shaiva virtue for grace (anugraha) and liberation.
Śaṅkara is approached as Saguna Śiva—the personal Lord who gives direct ājñā. Devotional acts like pranāma mirror how devotees approach the Śiva-liṅga: with reverence, obedience, and readiness to act in alignment with the Lord’s will.
A practical takeaway is daily pranāma to Śiva (and respectful salutation to devas), coupled with mental acceptance of the Lord’s will—ideally while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady humility and resolve.