Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
अनेन विजितश्चेन्द्रो लोकपालैः पुरा सह । विष्णुश्चापि महावीरो तर्जितस्तपसो बलात्
anena vijitaścendro lokapālaiḥ purā saha | viṣṇuścāpi mahāvīro tarjitastapaso balāt
Durch die Kraft eben dieser Askese (tapas) wurde einst Indra samt den Hütern der Welten bezwungen; ja selbst der große Held Viṣṇu wurde von der Macht dieses tapas überwältigt und zurückgehalten.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It emphasizes that tapas (disciplined spiritual heat) can surpass worldly sovereignty: even the highest celestial powers are limited before inner spiritual force, which in Shaiva understanding ultimately ripens into grace-oriented devotion to Pati (Śiva) and liberation.
The verse highlights the supremacy of spiritual potency over external rank; in Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship this becomes a call to steady sādhanā—offering, japa, and restraint—so the devotee’s consciousness turns from worldly powers to Śiva as the supreme refuge and lord of all deities.
A practical takeaway is sustained tapas as daily discipline—Pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with regulated conduct; optionally supported by Rudrākṣa wearing and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as Shaiva marks of focused sādhanā.