Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
नागान्सुपर्णान्वरराक्षसांश्च गंधर्वयक्षानपि मानुषांस्तु । गिरीन्द्रवृक्षान्समरेषु सर्वांश्चतुष्पदः सिंहमुखान्विजिग्ये
nāgānsuparṇānvararākṣasāṃśca gaṃdharvayakṣānapi mānuṣāṃstu | girīndravṛkṣānsamareṣu sarvāṃścatuṣpadaḥ siṃhamukhānvijigye
In the battles, the lion-faced four-footed one conquered them all—Nāgas, Suparṇas, mighty Rākṣasas, Gandharvas and Yakṣas, as well as human warriors; even the lords of mountains and the trees were overcome.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Durgā
Role: destructive
FAQs
It portrays the irresistible dominance of divinely empowered force: all classes of beings and even seemingly immovable powers (mountains/trees) are subdued, echoing the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that Pati (the Supreme Lord) alone ultimately governs and overrules pasha (binding forces) and pashu (limited beings).
The battle imagery highlights Saguna Shiva’s sovereignty expressed through his manifested energies and agents; devotion to the Liṅga trains the mind to recognize that behind all worldly powers stands Shiva’s supreme lordship, which alone grants protection and final liberation.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind in Shiva’s protection through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, where traditional, wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as reminders of surrender amid conflict and fear.