Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः
Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura
ततस्सर्वे सुरा विष्णुप्रमुखाः प्रीतमानसाः । ऐच्छन्गिरिवरं गंतुं पुरस्कृत्य गुहं मुदा
tatassarve surā viṣṇupramukhāḥ prītamānasāḥ | aicchangirivaraṃ gaṃtuṃ puraskṛtya guhaṃ mudā
তারপর বিষ্ণুপ্রমুখ সকল দেবতা আনন্দিত চিত্তে, গুহ (কার্ত্তিকেয়)কে অগ্রে স্থাপন করে, সেই শ্রেষ্ঠ পর্বতে যেতে ইচ্ছা করলেন।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Transition verse: the devas, pleased, proceed toward an excellent mountain with Skanda honored in front—setting up a kṣetra narrative (movement from consecration to pilgrimage/action).
Significance: Models tīrtha-yātrā ethos: honoring the leader (Guha) and proceeding with unity after worship; suggests that right orientation (prīti, mudā) accompanies sacred travel.
FAQs
It highlights reverent alignment with divine order: even the devas, led by Viṣṇu, willingly honor Guha (Kārtikeya) by placing him foremost—showing that spiritual progress comes through humility, harmony, and honoring Shiva’s divine will manifest through his son.
Though the verse mentions Guha and the devas, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s cosmic governance: Shiva’s grace operates through his embodied forms and family (parivāra-devatā). Honoring Guha is indirectly honoring Shiva’s manifested power (śakti) that protects dharma.
The takeaway is devotional discipline through reverence and right following: approach sacred places and worship with a “prīta-mānasa” (joyful, purified mind), and begin with respectful invocation of Shiva’s attendants/family—commonly done via Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before related devatā worship.