Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 64
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
राजत्वमुक्तोऽखिलदैत्यनाथस्तपस्विना तन्मुनिना विहस्य । मत्वा स्वबुद्ध्या तृणवत्त्रिलोकं महौजसा वीरवरेण नूनम्
rājatvamukto'khiladaityanāthastapasvinā tanmuninā vihasya | matvā svabuddhyā tṛṇavattrilokaṃ mahaujasā vīravareṇa nūnam
ৰাজত্বত স্থিত অখিল দৈত্যনাথ—সেই তপস্বী মুনিৰ হাস্য-উপহাসৰ পিছত—নিশ্চয় নিজৰ অহংবুদ্ধিৰে, মহাতেজস্বী বীৰ হোৱাৰ বাবে, ত্ৰিলোকক তৃণসম জ্ঞান কৰিবলৈ ধৰিলে।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It highlights how ahamkāra (egoic pride) distorts buddhi (discernment): even great power makes the deluded see the three worlds as insignificant, which in Shaiva thought becomes a cause of bondage (pāśa) until humbled by divine law and grace.
By contrasting worldly sovereignty with true lordship: Saguna Shiva as the Linga is the rightful Pati (Lord) of the three worlds, and devotion to Shiva corrects pride, reorienting power toward dharma rather than domination.
A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and inner reflection on humility—using worship to purify ego and stabilize discernment.