Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict
एकतस्तन्मुखं दृष्ट्वा शंकरोप्याजगाम ह । स्वत्रिशूलं समादाय सुक्रुद्धो युद्धकाम्यया
ekatastanmukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṃkaropyājagāma ha | svatriśūlaṃ samādāya sukruddho yuddhakāmyayā
Voyant ce visage d’un côté, Śaṅkara s’avança lui aussi. Saisissant son propre trident, en une colère intense, il marcha en avant, désireux d’engager le combat.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
The verse portrays Saguna Śiva acting as the supreme protector: His “wrath” is not ordinary anger but a divine force that removes adharma and safeguards devotees, reaffirming Pati’s lordship in Shaiva Siddhanta.
While the Liṅga signifies Śiva’s transcendent reality, this scene highlights the same Lord in a manifest, personal form (Saguna Śiva) wielding the Triśūla—helping devotees relate to Śiva as both the formless Absolute and the compassionate protector within sacred history.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as Triśūla-dhārī (bearer of the trident) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner courage and the resolve to cut the threefold bonds (pāśa) that obstruct liberation.