Shloka 52
जलंधरयुद्धे मायाप्रयोगः — Jalandhara’s Māyā in the Battle with Śiva
तत्तेजो निर्गतं देहाद्रुद्रे च लयमागमत् । वृन्दादेहोद्भवं यद्वद्गौर्य्यां हि विलयं गतम्
tattejo nirgataṃ dehādrudre ca layamāgamat | vṛndādehodbhavaṃ yadvadgauryyāṃ hi vilayaṃ gatam
That radiance departed from the body and entered into Rudra, attaining dissolution in Him—just as the manifestation that had arisen from Vṛndā’s body ultimately merged and was absorbed into Gaurī.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: reabsorption (laya) of manifested tejas into its divine source
FAQs
It teaches laya—every manifested power or brilliance, after fulfilling its role, returns to its source. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, the verse points to Rudra as the supreme ground (Pati) into whom limited manifestations subside, indicating the soul’s goal of resting in Shiva’s grace rather than clinging to transient forms.
The Linga symbolizes the unshakable source into which all forms dissolve. Worshiping Saguna Shiva (Rudra with attributes) trains the mind to recognize that all visible energies and events are dependent on Him and finally merge back into Him—just as the verse describes radiance entering Rudra.
A practical takeaway is laya-dhyāna: while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), contemplate thoughts, pride, and personal ‘tejas’ dissolving into Rudra’s presence. Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa can be used as aids to remember impermanence and surrender to Shiva.