Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
उत्सृज्य राज्यं सकलं च तस्मै प्रह्लादमुख्यास्त्वथ दानवेन्द्राः । तमागतं लब्धवरं च मत्वा भृत्या बभूवुर्वश गास्तु तस्य
utsṛjya rājyaṃ sakalaṃ ca tasmai prahlādamukhyāstvatha dānavendrāḥ | tamāgataṃ labdhavaraṃ ca matvā bhṛtyā babhūvurvaśa gāstu tasya
তখন প্রহ্লাদ প্রমুখ দানবশ্রেষ্ঠরা তাদের সমগ্র রাজ্য তার হাতে সমর্পণ করল। তিনি বরপ্রাপ্ত হয়ে ফিরে এসেছেন—এ কথা জেনে তারা তার অধীন হয়ে দাস্যভাবের সেবক হয়ে রইল।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
The verse highlights how worldly sovereignty becomes secondary when a being is seen as empowered by divine grace (vara). In Shaiva understanding, true authority is not mere political rule but the force of karma and Śiva’s sanction; surrender arises when power is recognized as stemming from a higher principle (Pati).
Although the Liṅga is not named here, the logic is consistent with Saguna Śiva devotion in the Purāṇa: boons and protection flow from the Lord’s manifest grace, and beings realign their loyalties accordingly. The narrative reinforces that devotion to the manifest Lord (Saguna Śiva) reshapes worldly hierarchies through dharma and divine favor.
The practical takeaway is inner surrender (śaraṇāgati): offer one’s ‘kingdom’—ego and possessiveness—into Śiva’s hands. As a simple practice, repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while mentally renouncing control and dedicating actions to Śiva.