Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas
सद्यः पपात नागाश्च धरण्यां मूर्च्छितोऽभवत् । परं कश्मलमापेदे वज्रधारी सुरेश्वरः
sadyaḥ papāta nāgāśca dharaṇyāṃ mūrcchito'bhavat | paraṃ kaśmalamāpede vajradhārī sureśvaraḥ
Aussitôt, le serpent tomba à terre et perdit connaissance. Même Indra, souverain des dieux et porteur du vajra, fut saisi d’un trouble et d’une détresse extrêmes.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse highlights that even exalted beings like Indra can be overtaken by kaśmala (bewilderment and distress), implying that true steadiness arises not from status or power but from alignment with Śiva (Pati) and inner purity, a key Shaiva Siddhanta theme.
Indra’s confusion underscores the limits of mere celestial authority; Saguna Śiva worship—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga—trains the devotee to take refuge in Śiva’s grace, which stabilizes the mind beyond fear and delusion in turbulent situations.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to counter mental agitation (kaśmala), along with steady devotional remembrance; if following Shiva Purana observances, this can be paired with simple liṅga-abhiṣeka and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a discipline of composure and surrender.