Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्
Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission
अंतरिक्षचराभ्यां च दितिजाभ्यां कटा क्षिता । क्रोडीकृताभ्यामिव वै समुपस्थितमृत्युना
aṃtarikṣacarābhyāṃ ca ditijābhyāṃ kaṭā kṣitā | kroḍīkṛtābhyāmiva vai samupasthitamṛtyunā
আকাশচারী সেই দুই দিতিজের আঘাতে পৃথিবী বিদীর্ণ ও চূর্ণ হলো; যেন মৃত্যু নিজেই উপস্থিত হয়ে জগৎকে কোলে বেঁধে ধরেছে।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse is a battlefield hyperbole where daityas make the earth seem seized by Mṛtyu (Death), foreshadowing divine intervention.
FAQs
It portrays the world’s helplessness when overwhelmed by destructive forces, reminding the seeker that safety is not in worldly supports but in taking refuge in Pati—Lord Shiva—who alone transcends Mṛtyu and grants liberation.
When the cosmos feels ‘seized by death,’ the Purana’s practical refuge is Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Linga—who is approached for protection, steadiness of mind, and victory over fear, while pointing ultimately to Shiva’s Nirguna transcendence beyond death.
Japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with calm breath-awareness is the direct antidote to death-fear; if performing a rite, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and remember Shiva as Mṛtyuñjaya.