Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
स नन्दी कार्तिकेयश्च समायातौ त्वरान्वितौ । जघ्नतुश्च रणे दैत्यान्निरंतरशरव्रजैः । छिन्नैर्भिन्नैर्हतैर्दैत्यैः पतितैर्भक्षितैस्तथा । व्याकुला साभवत्सेना विषण्णवदना तदा
sa nandī kārtikeyaśca samāyātau tvarānvitau | jaghnatuśca raṇe daityānniraṃtaraśaravrajaiḥ | chinnairbhinnairhatairdaityaiḥ patitairbhakṣitaistathā | vyākulā sābhavatsenā viṣaṇṇavadanā tadā
ثم أقبل نندي وكارتيكيا مسرعين. وفي ساحة القتال صرعا الدانافا بوابلٍ لا ينقطع من السهام. وقد قُطِّعت الشياطين وشُقَّت وقُتلت—فمنهم من سقط صريعًا ومنهم من ابتُلِع أيضًا—فاضطرب جيشهم وارتبك، وعندئذٍ علت وجوههم الكآبة واليأس.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
FAQs
It depicts the triumph of Śiva’s śakti in action through Nandin and Skanda: when dharma is upheld, adharma loses its footing—symbolized by the demon army’s collapse into fear and confusion.
Nandin and Kārtikeya are Saguna expressions of Śiva’s protective grace (anugraha). Remembering them in Linga-worship reinforces the devotee’s trust that the Lord’s power removes inner ‘demonic’ tendencies—anger, pride, and delusion.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) or wearing rudrākṣa—cultivating fearless devotion as the inner battle is faced.