Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39
जलंधरयुद्धे मायाप्रयोगः — Jalandhara’s Māyā in the Battle with Śiva
ऐरावतादयो नागाः क्षिप्ताः सिन्धुजलोपरि । सरथो भगवानिन्द्रः क्षिप्तश्च शतयोजनम्
airāvatādayo nāgāḥ kṣiptāḥ sindhujalopari | saratho bhagavānindraḥ kṣiptaśca śatayojanam
Airāvata und die anderen mächtigen Elefanten wurden auf die Wasser des Ozeans geschleudert; und Indra selbst — samt seinem Wagen — wurde hundert Yojanas weit fortgeworfen.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Significance: Recollection of the devas’ humiliation (Indra cast away) functions as a didactic warning against ahaṅkāra; devotion to Śiva is presented as the true refuge beyond celestial power.
FAQs
It depicts the collapse of deva-pride: even Indra and his celestial forces can be forcibly displaced, teaching that worldly power is unstable and true refuge is surrender to the Supreme Lord (Pati) who governs all.
In Shaiva narrative logic, such reversals reveal that the devas’ authority is contingent, while Saguna Shiva (worshipped as the Linga and as the Lord of all) is the unwavering source of order; devotion shifts from secondary powers to the Supreme.
A practical takeaway is humility and śaraṇāgati supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady remembrance of Shiva’s lordship when facing upheaval.