Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
शङ्खचूडकृततपः—ब्रह्मवरकवचप्राप्तिः / Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Austerity—Brahmā’s Boon and the Bestowal of the Kavaca
शंखचूडोऽहमेवास्मि देवविद्रावकारकः । मां न जानासि किं भद्रे न श्रुतोऽहं कदाचन
śaṃkhacūḍo'hamevāsmi devavidrāvakārakaḥ | māṃ na jānāsi kiṃ bhadre na śruto'haṃ kadācana
„Ich allein bin Śaṅkhacūḍa, der die Götter in die Flucht schlägt. O Holdselige, erkennst du mich nicht? Hast du nie, zu keiner Zeit, von mir gehört?“
Śaṅkhacūḍa (the asura/daitya antagonist in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse highlights asuric ahaṅkāra (pride) and the delusion of power: driving away the devas is presented as a boast, contrasting with the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal where true greatness is surrender to Pati (Śiva) and alignment with dharma.
In Yuddhakhaṇḍa episodes, worldly dominance is shown as unstable; devotion to Saguna Śiva through liṅga-worship is portrayed elsewhere in the Purāṇa as the stabilizing refuge that subdues ego and protects dharma beyond mere celestial or demonic power.
A practical takeaway is to counter pride with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, cultivating humility and devotion to Śiva.