Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36
हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings
ततः स दैत्यस्सहसा बहूंश्च कृत्वा भुजाञ्छस्त्रयुतान्निरीक्ष्य । नृसिंहरूपं प्रययौ मृगेन्द्र संयुध्यमानं सहसा समंतात्
tataḥ sa daityassahasā bahūṃśca kṛtvā bhujāñchastrayutānnirīkṣya | nṛsiṃharūpaṃ prayayau mṛgendra saṃyudhyamānaṃ sahasā samaṃtāt
Alors ce démon, se multipliant soudainement en de nombreuses formes et voyant ses bras munis d'armes, s'élança aussitôt sous la forme d'un homme-lion, tel un lion parmi les bêtes, combattant farouchement de tous côtés.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
The verse portrays the asuric tendency to multiply power through outward force and frightening forms; in Shaiva thought this mirrors the expanding ego and māyā that must be mastered by steadiness in dharma and devotion to Pati (Śiva), the true sovereign of power.
The demon’s assumed man-lion form highlights that forms can be adopted for intimidation, while the Śiva-liṅga signifies the stable axis of worship—Saguna devotion grounded in the Liṅga leads beyond deceptive appearances toward Śiva’s supreme reality.
As a practical takeaway, steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and a calm, witness-like attention helps counter fear and mental proliferation—turning the ‘battle on all sides’ into inner discipline.