Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency
दृष्ट्वा सैन्यं च प्रमथेर्भज्यमानमितस्ततः । दुद्राव रथमास्थाय स्वयमेवांधको गणान्
dṛṣṭvā sainyaṃ ca pramatherbhajyamānamitastataḥ | dudrāva rathamāsthāya svayamevāṃdhako gaṇān
Als er sah, wie sein Heer hier und dort von den Pramathas zerschlagen wurde, bestieg Andhaka selbst seinen Wagen und stürmte geradewegs auf die Gaṇas los.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It depicts the surge of asuric ego: when resistance arises, Andhaka responds with personal aggression. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this mirrors the bound soul (paśu) driven by āṇava-mala (egoic limitation), rushing into deeper conflict rather than turning toward Śiva’s grace.
The Gaṇas and Pramathas represent Saguna Śiva’s protective, active power in the world—His divine order embodied through attendants. The narrative frames devotion as aligning with Śiva’s hosts (dharma and protection), rather than opposing them through pride.
A practical takeaway is restraint and surrender through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to pacify reactive impulses; applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing Rudrākṣa are traditional Shaiva aids for cultivating humility and steadiness amid inner ‘battle.’