Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle
ते सेने सुरदैत्यानां शुशुभाते परस्परम् । हंतुकामे तदान्योन्यं स्तूयमाने च बन्दिभिः
te sene suradaityānāṃ śuśubhāte parasparam | haṃtukāme tadānyonyaṃ stūyamāne ca bandibhiḥ
حينئذٍ تألّق الجيشان—جيشُ الآلهة وجيشُ الدَّيتْيَة—متقابلين، وكلٌّ منهما يتوق إلى قتل الآخر، بينما كان المُنشدون يسبّحون بمدائحهم.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Sthala Purana: No direct Jyotirliṅga linkage; the ‘shining armies’ and bardic praise underscore worldly glory (kīrti) that often precedes destruction—an implicit saṃhāra motif under Bhairava’s terrible sovereignty.
Significance: Contemplative takeaway: external splendor and praise are unstable; remembrance of Śiva as Bhairava cuts through fascination with martial ‘brightness’.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Durgā
Role: destructive
FAQs
It depicts the outward clash of devas and daityas as a mirror of inner conflict—dharma versus adharma—ultimately governed by Pati (Lord Shiva). The splendor of the armies highlights how power without right orientation must be offered to Shiva through discipline and devotion.
Even amid violent intent, the Purana’s broader Shaiva frame points to Saguna Shiva as the Lord who regulates cosmic order; worship of the Linga centers the mind in Shiva’s sovereignty so that passion and aggression are transformed into steadiness and dharmic courage.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to subdue hostility, along with Tripundra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence—turning the urge to “defeat the other” into conquest of one’s own anger and pride.