Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2
अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces
ददर्श दैत्यः स्मरबाणविद्धो गुहां ततो वीरकरुद्धमार्गाम् । स्निग्धं यथा वीक्ष्य पतंगसंज्ञः दशाप्रदीपं च कृमिर्ह्युपेत्य
dadarśa daityaḥ smarabāṇaviddho guhāṃ tato vīrakaruddhamārgām | snigdhaṃ yathā vīkṣya pataṃgasaṃjñaḥ daśāpradīpaṃ ca kṛmirhyupetya
Da erblickte der Dämon—von Kāmas Pfeilen verwundet—eine Höhle, deren Zugang ein Held versperrt hatte. Von Verblendung angezogen, drängte er darauf zu, wie die Motte, die den Schein der Lampe sieht und sich heranstürzt—wie ein Wurm, der zum glänzenden Licht kriecht, nur um sein Verderben zu finden.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It warns that kama (desire), when it pierces the mind, drives one toward what appears pleasing but is spiritually destructive—like a moth rushing into flame. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this is pasha (bondage) pulling the pashu (bound soul) away from clear discernment and toward suffering.
By contrasting delusive attraction with true refuge: the demon is drawn to a false ‘glow,’ whereas the devotee turns toward Saguna Shiva (Linga worship) as the steady, purifying light that burns ignorance without destroying the seeker—leading the mind from pasha to Pati (Shiva).
Cultivate vairagya (dispassion) and steadiness through japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so the mind does not run after deceptive sense-glitter. If practiced ritually, combine japa with Tripundra (bhasma) and simple Shiva-dhyana to cool desire and strengthen discrimination.