Shloka 17
शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)
अस्मत्तो बिभ्यति सुरास्तदा भवदनुग्रहात् । गजा इव हरिभ्यश्च तार्क्ष्येभ्य इव पन्नगाः
asmatto bibhyati surāstadā bhavadanugrahāt | gajā iva haribhyaśca tārkṣyebhya iva pannagāḥ
By your gracious favour, the devas then become afraid of us—just as elephants fear lions, and serpents fear Garuḍa.
A demon/asura spokesperson addressing Lord Śiva (within Sūta’s narration in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace) as the decisive power: when grace turns toward a devotee, worldly strength and even deva-authority can be overturned—showing that ultimate sovereignty belongs to Pati (Śiva), not to any limited celestial order.
The verse emphasizes personal divine favour—central to Saguna Śiva worship—where devotion to Śiva (often through the Liṅga) invokes anugraha that removes fear and grants protection, establishing Śiva as the supreme refuge beyond deva and asura dualities.
A practical takeaway is anugraha-sādhana through bhakti: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Liṅga-pūjā, optionally wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders of Śiva’s protection and lordship.