Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
एको बालोऽखिलं सैन्यं लोडयामास दुस्तरम् । यथा गिरिवरेणैव लोडितस्सागरः पुरा
eko bālo'khilaṃ sainyaṃ loḍayāmāsa dustaram | yathā girivareṇaiva loḍitassāgaraḥ purā
Dieser eine Knabe überwältigte das ganze, schwer zu bezwingende Heer — wie einst der Ozean von einem mächtigen Berg aufgewühlt wurde.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Cosmic Event: mythic recollection of samudra-manthana imagery (ocean churned by Mandara)
FAQs
The verse highlights how divine śakti, flowing from Pati (Lord Śiva), can make even a seemingly small form (a ‘boy’) capable of subduing immense forces—teaching devotees that victory over obstacles arises from Shiva’s grace rather than mere personal strength.
Kumāra’s prowess is presented as an expression of Saguna Shiva’s will and empowerment; worship of the Liṅga and Shiva’s manifest forms cultivates surrender and receptivity to that grace, which ‘churns’ and transforms the devotee’s inner ocean of tendencies.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti, supported by Shaiva discipline such as wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma), to gain inner steadiness and divine support in confronting formidable challenges.