Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
मया यमः कृतो योद्धा वह्निश्च कृतको महान् । वरुणश्चापि गोपालो गवां पालयिता तथा
mayā yamaḥ kṛto yoddhā vahniśca kṛtako mahān | varuṇaścāpi gopālo gavāṃ pālayitā tathā
“由我使阎摩成为战士；又使阿耆尼被立为伟大的神力。婆楼那亦成牧牛者——实为群牛的守护与看护者。”
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It presents Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) who assigns roles to cosmic powers—showing that even mighty deities operate by Shiva’s sanction, guiding the soul from disorder toward dharma and ultimately liberation.
In Shaiva understanding, the Liṅga signifies Shiva as the transcendent source from whom all functions arise; worship of Saguna Shiva recognizes Him as the conscious governor who empowers deities like Yama, Agni, and Varuṇa to carry out universal order.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with the intent of aligning one’s life with dharma and restraint (yama-niyama).