Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle
तत्र ते गिरिसंकाशा बाहवोऽनलकाष्ठवत् । छिन्ना भूमौ पतिष्यंति शस्त्रास्त्रैः कदलीकृताः
tatra te girisaṃkāśā bāhavo'nalakāṣṭhavat | chinnā bhūmau patiṣyaṃti śastrāstraiḥ kadalīkṛtāḥ
هناك قُطِعَت ذراعاه—عظيمتان كالجِبال وصلبتان كحطب النار—بالسلاح والسهام؛ فسقطتا على الأرض كسيقان الموز حين تُجتَثّ.
Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
Role: destructive
FAQs
It underscores the Shaiva view that embodied power is impermanent: even “mountain-like” strength is cut down, while refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva) alone is lasting beyond the fall of the body.
The violent collapse of bodily might contrasts with Shiva’s abiding reality: devotees turn from transient forms to Shiva as Saguna protector in the narrative, and to the Linga as the stable focus of worship representing the timeless Pati.
A practical takeaway is vairāgya with japa: steady recitation of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to loosen identification with the body and anchor awareness in Shiva during fear, conflict, or change.