Shloka 3
हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings
ततो गृहीतस्स मृगाधिपेन भुजैरनेकैर्गिरिसारवद्भि । निधाय जानौ स भुजांतरेषु नखांकुरैर्दानवमर्मभिद्भिः
tato gṛhītassa mṛgādhipena bhujairanekairgirisāravadbhi | nidhāya jānau sa bhujāṃtareṣu nakhāṃkurairdānavamarmabhidbhiḥ
Then the Lord of beasts seized him with many arms, firm as the essence of a mountain. Placing the demon across his knees and between his arms, he tore into the vital spots with the tips of his nails, rending the Daitya’s marma-points.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
Śiva as Paśupati subdues the dānava by striking the “marmas,” symbolizing the Lord’s grace that destroys the inner vital knots of ego, violence, and ignorance that bind the soul (paśu) in pāśa.
This is Saguna Śiva—personally acting as protector and destroyer of adharma. Linga-worship remembers the same Lord beyond form (Nirguṇa) who, out of compassion, manifests in form to restrain destructive forces and restore order.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and self-restraint, praying that Śiva pierce one’s inner “marmas” of anger and pride; on Mahāśivarātri, combine this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation.