Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 66
राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading
Cause and Background
तदैव सर्वेष्वसुरोऽधिकारेष्विन्द्रादिकानां विनिवेश्य सम्यक् । शुंभादिकान्दैत्यवरान् पृथक्पृथक्स्वयं सुवर्णादिगुहां व्यगान्मुने
tadaiva sarveṣvasuro'dhikāreṣvindrādikānāṃ viniveśya samyak | śuṃbhādikāndaityavarān pṛthakpṛthaksvayaṃ suvarṇādiguhāṃ vyagānmune
Da, zur selben Zeit, setzte der Asura Indra und die übrigen Götter ordnungsgemäß in ihre jeweiligen Zuständigkeitsbereiche ein, stellte die vornehmsten Daityas wie Śumbha getrennt an verschiedene Posten; und er selbst, o Weiser, begab sich in die Höhle namens Suvarṇa und dergleichen.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It contrasts asuric governance—control, redistribution of power, and strategic occupation—with the Shaiva view that true sovereignty belongs to Pati (Shiva) alone; worldly offices shift, but liberation comes through taking refuge in Shiva beyond such changing authorities.
The verse shows instability in cosmic administration under demonic influence; Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva are presented in the Shiva Purana as the stable refuge that restores dharma when external structures (like Indra’s rule) are overturned.
A practical Shaiva takeaway is to steady the mind with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintain Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as protective disciplines, especially during times of fear, conflict, or social upheaval.