Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
तारक-कुमार-युद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Tāraka and Kumāra
एवं परस्परं तौ हि कुमारश्चापि तारकः । युयुधातेऽतिसंरब्धौ शक्तियुद्धविशारदौ
evaṃ parasparaṃ tau hi kumāraścāpi tārakaḥ | yuyudhāte'tisaṃrabdhau śaktiyuddhaviśāradau
So standen sich Kumāra (Skanda) und Tāraka gegenüber und kämpften höchst erbittert; beide, von Zorn entflammt, waren kundig im Kampf mit der Śakti (Lanze).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It portrays dharma confronting adharma: Kumāra, empowered by Śiva’s will, meets Tāraka directly, showing that divine order manifests to remove bondage-creating arrogance and restore cosmic balance.
Kumāra’s victory is understood as Saguna Śiva’s protective grace expressed through Śiva’s divine family; devotion to the Liṅga is devotion to that same Lord whose śakti safeguards devotees by overcoming hostile forces.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate inner courage and restraint; the verse itself does not prescribe a specific rite like bhasma or rudrākṣa, but supports disciplined devotional practice during conflict.