Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
देव्याः क्रोधः शक्तिनिर्माणं च
Devī’s Wrath and the Manifestation of the Śaktis
देवांश्चैव ऋषींश्चैव यक्षराक्षसकांस्तथा । अस्मदीयान्परांश्चैव सख्यो भक्षत वै हठात्
devāṃścaiva ṛṣīṃścaiva yakṣarākṣasakāṃstathā | asmadīyānparāṃścaiva sakhyo bhakṣata vai haṭhāt
«Amigas: devorad por la fuerza a los dioses y a los sabios, y también a los Yakṣas y Rākṣasas; devorad tanto a los de nuestro bando como a los del bando contrario.»
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa episode to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, reporting a command spoken within the story)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: pralaya-like devastation (narrative destruction extending to devas/ṛṣis)
FAQs
The verse depicts a tamasic, adharma-driven command to destroy indiscriminately—even friend and foe—highlighting how delusion (moha) and cruelty sever one from Shiva’s grace. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such violence strengthens pāśa (bondage) and deepens the soul’s impurity, delaying liberation.
By contrast, Linga/Saguna Shiva worship disciplines the mind away from hatred and impulsive force (haṭha as stubborn violence here) toward śuddhi (purification), compassion, and dharma. The narrative warns that power without devotion and restraint becomes destructive, whereas Shiva-bhakti refines power into protection.
A practical takeaway is to counter tamasic impulses with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of purity and self-control—transforming aggression into steadiness and devotion.