Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16
शिवदूतेन युद्धनिश्चयः तथा देवदानवयुद्धारम्भः (Śiva’s Envoy and the Commencement of the Deva–Dānava War)
महामणिश्च युयुधे चोग्रचंडादिभिस्सह । राहुणा सह चन्द्रश्च जीवः शुक्रेण धर्मतः
mahāmaṇiśca yuyudhe cogracaṃḍādibhissaha | rāhuṇā saha candraśca jīvaḥ śukreṇa dharmataḥ
Mahāmaṇi kämpfte zusammen mit Ogracaṇḍa und den anderen. Der Mond stritt an der Seite Rāhus, und Jīva trat Śukra entgegen — ein jeder gemäß der durch Dharma gefügten Zuordnung seiner Partei in jener Schlacht.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Cosmic Event: graha-yuddha imagery (planetary/astral forces aligned in battle)
FAQs
It highlights that even in conflict, beings move within a dharmic order; from a Śaiva view, this order ultimately rests in Śiva as Pati, the supreme governor of cosmic balance.
The verse depicts structured cosmic forces and alliances; Linga worship centers the devotee in the unshakable source of that order—Saguna Śiva as the Lord who regulates and transcends all planetary and worldly oppositions.
A practical takeaway is to steady oneself in dharma through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, cultivating inner alignment rather than being pulled by opposing forces.