Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
तेनैव यत्नतः पूर्वमसुरौ मधुकैटभौ । शिरौहीनौ कृतौ धौर्त्याद्वेदमार्गो विवर्जितः
tenaiva yatnataḥ pūrvamasurau madhukaiṭabhau | śirauhīnau kṛtau dhaurtyādvedamārgo vivarjitaḥ
Durch eben jenen wurden einst—mit sorgfältigem Bemühen—die beiden Asuras Madhu und Kaiṭabha enthauptet. Doch aufgrund trügerischen Frevels wurde der vedische Pfad beiseitegeschoben und verletzt.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Cosmic Event: mythic primordial conflict (Madhu-Kaiṭabha episode)
FAQs
It highlights that mere destruction of evil is not the full victory; when deceit and adharma prevail, the Vedic way of right conduct is forsaken—blocking the soul’s (paśu’s) purification needed for Shiva’s grace.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is tied to dharma and inner purity; this verse warns that abandoning the Vedic path through deceit undermines the very foundation required for fruitful Saguna Shiva worship and divine protection.
The takeaway is to restore dharmic discipline: daily Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with truthful conduct; otherwise ritual becomes hollow and cannot remove pāśa (bondage).