Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading
Cause and Background
पराजितास्सुरास्तेन रमेशं शरणं ययुः । सवासवास्स्ववृत्तांतमाचख्युः स्वार्थसाधकाः
parājitāssurāstena rameśaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ | savāsavāssvavṛttāṃtamācakhyuḥ svārthasādhakāḥ
Vaincus par lui, les Asuras allèrent chercher refuge auprès de Rameśa. Avec les Vasus et les Ādityas, ils exposèrent tout ce qui s’était passé, en quête de l’accomplissement de leurs propres desseins.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights that when driven by svārtha (self-serving motives), even a truthful report and an act of seeking refuge remain worldly; Shaiva Siddhanta contrasts this with pure śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Pati (Shiva) that loosens pāśa (bondage).
The verse shows crisis-driven refuge-seeking; in Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee is encouraged to approach Shiva not merely for tactical gain but with devotion and inner transformation—turning refuge into bhakti rather than expediency.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with humility, supported by simple Shaiva observances like applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady breath-awareness during japa.