Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
ते सर्वे चागतास्तत्र षण्मुखाद्याश्च ये पुनः । देवा व्यर्थायुधा जाता आश्चर्यं परमं गताः
te sarve cāgatāstatra ṣaṇmukhādyāśca ye punaḥ | devā vyarthāyudhā jātā āścaryaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ
Then all of them arrived there—along with Ṣaṇmukha and the others. The gods found their weapons rendered futile, and they were seized by the highest astonishment.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It highlights that worldly power (even divine weaponry) becomes ineffective before higher divine ordinance; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true mastery comes through Shiva’s grace, not through force or ego.
The motif of ‘weapons becoming futile’ points to the supremacy of Shiva’s śakti and governance (Pati). Linga/Saguna worship trains the devotee to rely on Shiva’s refuge rather than external power, aligning will with dharma.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with humility, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders that inner surrender is stronger than outward aggression.