Shloka 18
उत्पातवर्णनम् / Description of Portents at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
पतित्वा ते स्थिता भूमौ क्रूराः सर्पा हता इव । कंदुका इव ते भूयः पतिताः पुनरुत्थिताः
patitvā te sthitā bhūmau krūrāḥ sarpā hatā iva | kaṃdukā iva te bhūyaḥ patitāḥ punarutthitāḥ
Having fallen, they lay upon the ground like fierce serpents struck down. Then again, like balls rebounding, they fell and rose once more.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
Cosmic Event: repeated falling and rising amid crisis; imagery of struck serpents and rebounding balls
FAQs
It portrays the instability of embodied life under karmic bondage (pāśa): beings are thrown down and lifted up repeatedly, until devotion and Shiva’s grace establish inner steadiness and liberation.
The imagery highlights worldly helplessness; turning to Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship provides a stable refuge, transforming fear and agitation into surrender, purification, and Shiva’s protective grace.
Practice japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, cultivating equanimity so the mind is not “bounced” by gain and loss.