Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
मंत्रिण उचुः । निशाचरश्चंचलशौर्यधैर्यः क्व दानवः कृपणस्सत्त्वहीनः । क्रूरः कृतघ्नश्च सदैव पापी क्व दानवः सूर्यसुताद्बिभेति
maṃtriṇa ucuḥ | niśācaraścaṃcalaśauryadhairyaḥ kva dānavaḥ kṛpaṇassattvahīnaḥ | krūraḥ kṛtaghnaśca sadaiva pāpī kva dānavaḥ sūryasutādbibheti
Die Minister sprachen: „Wo ist jener nächtlich umherstreifende Dämon, wankelmütig an Mut und Standhaftigkeit—wo ist jener erbärmliche, tugendlose Dānava? Grausam, undankbar und stets sündig—wie könnte ein solcher Dānava den Sohn der Sonne fürchten?“
The ministers (mantriṇaḥ) of the demon side in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It contrasts sattva (inner nobility and clarity) with demonic traits like cruelty and ingratitude, implying that adharma breeds instability and fear; in Shaiva understanding, such qualities veil the soul (paśu) and bind it through pāśa (karmic bondage).
Though the verse is spoken in a war context, it indirectly points to the Shaiva ethic: devotion to Saguna Shiva and reverence for the Linga cultivate sattva, gratitude, and steadiness—qualities opposite to those listed here and supportive of spiritual purification.
A practical takeaway is to increase sattva through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, which are traditionally taught to stabilize the mind and reduce tamasic impulses.