Shloka 19
Nāgeśa-jyotirliṅga-prādurbhāvaḥ — The Manifestation of the Nāgeśa Jyotirliṅga
राक्षसा ऊचुः । किं कर्तव्यं क्व गंतव्यं संकटं समुपागताः । युद्ध्यते म्रियते चैव युद्ध्यते न विहन्यते
rākṣasā ūcuḥ | kiṃ kartavyaṃ kva gaṃtavyaṃ saṃkaṭaṃ samupāgatāḥ | yuddhyate mriyate caiva yuddhyate na vihanyate
The Rākṣasas said: “What should we do, and where should we go? We have fallen into great peril. In battle one is struck and dies; yet here, though the fighting goes on, one is not able to slay the opponent.”
Rākṣasas (demons)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It shows the collapse of egoic power when confronted with a force beyond ordinary karma—hinting that worldly strength fails before the Lord’s śakti, and that crisis can become the doorway to śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge in Shiva, the Pati).
The verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s manifest protection: when Shiva’s presence supports dharma, opponents experience helplessness. In Linga-worship, devotees contemplate Shiva as the unassailable refuge—beyond ordinary injury—who governs life and death.
In times of saṅkaṭa (crisis), take refuge in japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady the mind with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance and Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa as symbols of surrender to Shiva’s protection.