Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
ब्रह्मोवाच । इन्द्रोऽपि प्रहसन् विष्णुमात्मवादरतं तदा । वज्रपाणिस्सुरैस्सार्द्धं योद्धुकामोऽभवत्तदा
brahmovāca | indro'pi prahasan viṣṇumātmavādarataṃ tadā | vajrapāṇissuraissārddhaṃ yoddhukāmo'bhavattadā
Brahmā said: Then Indra too, laughing at Viṣṇu who was absorbed in his own reasoning and discourse, became eager to fight—Vajrapāṇi, the wielder of the thunderbolt, together with the gods.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights how pride and attachment to one’s own viewpoint (ātmavāda) can provoke conflict even among gods; Shaiva teaching points beyond deva-level ego toward surrender to Pati (Śiva), the supreme principle who dissolves such bondage.
The verse sets a narrative tone where deities act under ego and rivalry; Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship is presented in the Purana as the stabilizing refuge that turns the mind from argumentative self-assertion toward devotion and right orientation to Śiva’s lordship.
A practical takeaway is to counter “ātmavāda” (self-asserting pride) with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a humility-based worship attitude; if following Purāṇic Shaiva practice, apply bhasma (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder to restrain anger and aggression.