Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces
शिव उवाच । तस्माद्बलं यन्मम तत्प्रणष्टं मर्त्यैरमर्त्यस्य यतः प्रपातः । पुण्यक्षयाही ग्रह एव जातो दिवानिशं देवि तव प्रसंगात्
śiva uvāca | tasmādbalaṃ yanmama tatpraṇaṣṭaṃ martyairamartyasya yataḥ prapātaḥ | puṇyakṣayāhī graha eva jāto divāniśaṃ devi tava prasaṃgāt
Dijo Śiva: Por eso mi poder se ha visto menguado—pues, por obra de los mortales, ha sobrevenido una caída al Inmortal. Oh Devī, por mi trato contigo ha surgido en verdad el ‘Graha’, serpentino, del agotamiento del mérito, que me atormenta día y noche.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights how bondage is sustained by association and karmic momentum: when merit is exhausted (puṇya-kṣaya), an afflicting force (graha) arises, producing inner agitation. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it underscores the need to transcend both puṇya and pāpa through Shiva’s grace to reach liberation.
It points to Saguna Shiva’s divine play (līlā) where Shiva speaks in relational terms to the Devī, modeling how devotees should interpret life’s ‘afflictions’ as signals to turn toward Shiva. Linga-worship centers the mind on Pati (Shiva) beyond fluctuating karmic states like merit and its exhaustion.
A practical takeaway is to stabilize devotion when karmic ‘grahas’ arise: daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness, along with mindful detachment from binding associations.