Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51
देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas
पुनस्तया महाशक्त्या जघानामरवल्लभम् । अच्युतोऽपि महावीरा नन्दकेन जघान तम्
punastayā mahāśaktyā jaghānāmaravallabham | acyuto'pi mahāvīrā nandakena jaghāna tam
Puis encore, par cette grande Śakti divine, elle frappa celui qui était chéri des dieux. Et même Acyuta (Viṣṇu), le grand héros, le frappa avec Nandaka (son épée).
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights that cosmic order is restored through divine agency: Śakti (power) and the devas act as instruments in dharma’s protection, while ultimate sovereignty remains with the Supreme (understood in Shaiva Siddhanta as Pati, Lord Śiva), whose will is reflected through such powers.
Though the verse is martial in tone, it supports Saguna theology: divine forms, powers, and weapons function in the manifest realm. Linga-worship centers the devotee on the transcendent Lord who empowers these manifest agencies—Śakti and the devas—within the narrative world.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to steady the mind with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders that divine power, not egoic force, upholds victory and protection.