Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः
Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds
तस्मिन्महेन्द्रस्य गृहे महाबलो महामना निर्जितलोक एकराट् । रेमेऽभिवंद्यांघ्रियुगः सुरादिभिः प्रतापितैरूर्जितचंडशासनः
tasminmahendrasya gṛhe mahābalo mahāmanā nirjitaloka ekarāṭ | reme'bhivaṃdyāṃghriyugaḥ surādibhiḥ pratāpitairūrjitacaṃḍaśāsanaḥ
Allí, en la morada de Mahendra (Indra), aquel soberano de gran fuerza y noble ánimo—que había sometido a los mundos como único monarca—vivía en gozo y sosiego. Sus dos pies eran venerados por los dioses y por otros, humillados por su poder; pues su mandato, fuerte y severo, los mantenía a raya.
Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It highlights the peak of worldly power—being honored even by the Devas—yet implies that such dominance is temporal; Shaiva thought places lasting refuge in devotion to Pati (Śiva), not in ekarāṭ-style sovereignty.
By portraying Devas bowing at a ruler’s feet, the text implicitly contrasts worldly reverence with the highest worship directed to Saguna Śiva in the Liṅga, where surrender is offered for purification and grace rather than fear of authority.
The practical takeaway is to redirect the impulse of “bowing” toward Śiva: daily Liṅga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders that true lordship is Śiva’s and liberation is His grace.