Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings
यस्मान्न योद्धा भुवनत्रयेऽपि कुरुष्व राज्यं विनमन्मृगेन्द्रम् । श्रुत्वा स्वपुत्रस्य वचो दुरात्मा तमाह भीतोऽसि किमत्र पुत्र
yasmānna yoddhā bhuvanatraye'pi kuruṣva rājyaṃ vinamanmṛgendram | śrutvā svaputrasya vaco durātmā tamāha bhīto'si kimatra putra
«Puisqu’en les trois mondes nul guerrier n’est apte à l’affronter, affermis ton règne en humiliant ce lion parmi les hommes.» Entendant les paroles de son propre fils, ce scélérat lui dit : «Mon fils, as-tu peur ? Qu’y a-t-il ici à craindre ?»
A wicked king/anti-Shiva antagonist addressing his son (as narrated within Suta Goswami’s Rudrasaṃhitā account)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights how adharma is fueled by pride and misread courage: the wicked ruler mocks fear and refuses humility, showing the Shaiva lesson that true strength is surrender to dharma and to the Lord, not domination.
The verse contrasts arrogance with vinaya (humility). In Shaiva practice, approaching the Linga (Saguna Shiva) is an act of bowing and inner submission—precisely what the antagonist rejects, setting the stage for Shiva’s protection of dharma.
A practical takeaway is daily namaskāra and Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the bhāva of humility, using vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as reminders to conquer pride and fear.