Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization
निरीक्ष्यैवं पश्चाद्वृषभवरमारुह्य भगवान्कपर्द्दी युद्धार्थी विधसदितिजं सम्मुखमुखः । जपन्दिव्यं मन्त्रं निगलनविधानोद्गिलनकं स्थितस्सज्जं कृत्वा धनुरशनिकल्पानपि शरान्
nirīkṣyaivaṃ paścādvṛṣabhavaramāruhya bhagavānkaparddī yuddhārthī vidhasaditijaṃ sammukhamukhaḥ | japandivyaṃ mantraṃ nigalanavidhānodgilanakaṃ sthitassajjaṃ kṛtvā dhanuraśanikalpānapi śarān
Après avoir ainsi observé, le Bienheureux Seigneur Kapardī monta le taureau d’excellence et, avide de bataille, fit face au Daitya qui se tenait en vis-à-vis. Récitant sans cesse un mantra divin—capable d’engloutir puis de rejeter l’ennemi—il demeura prêt, ses flèches, telles des foudres, posées sur la corde de l’arc.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It shows Śiva as Pati—the sovereign protector of dharma—who acts in the world without losing inner stillness: even in battle he remains established in mantra, teaching that divine action is rooted in sacred consciousness.
The verse highlights Saguna Śiva (Kapardī on Nandi) whose accessible form inspires devotion; such narratives support Linga-worship by revealing the same Supreme Lord as both the worshipped symbol (Liṅga) and the living protector who intervenes for devotees.
Continuous mantra-japa while engaging one’s duties—especially remembrance of Śiva through pañcākṣarī-style devotion—suggests integrating meditation with action; the takeaway is steady japa with focused readiness (sajja), rather than distraction or fear.