Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization
प्रविष्टे पाताले गिरिजलधिरंध्राण्यपि तथा ततस्सैन्ये क्षीणे दितिजवृषभश्चांधकवरः । प्रकोपे देवानां कदनदवरो विश्वदलनो गदाघातैर्घोरैर्विदलितमदश्चापि हरिणा
praviṣṭe pātāle girijaladhiraṃdhrāṇyapi tathā tatassainye kṣīṇe ditijavṛṣabhaścāṃdhakavaraḥ | prakope devānāṃ kadanadavaro viśvadalano gadāghātairghorairvidalitamadaścāpi hariṇā
Lorsqu’il fut entré dans Pātāla—jusqu’aux cavernes des montagnes et aux profondeurs de l’océan—et que cette armée s’épuisait, Andhaka, le plus éminent des daityas, taureau parmi les démons, se dressa. Les Devas enflammés de colère, ce maître du carnage, ce déchireur du monde, vit son orgueil brisé : Hari le fendit par d’effroyables coups de massue.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse highlights how demonic “mada” (spiritual arrogance and power-intoxication) persists even when forces are weakened, yet it is ultimately broken by divine will. In Shaiva understanding, such pride is a pasha (bond) that must be shattered for dharma to prevail.
Though Hari is named as striking Andhaka, the episode belongs to the Rudra-saṃhitā’s Shaiva narrative where cosmic order is protected under Shiva’s sovereignty. Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship centers on surrendering ego (mada) and taking refuge in the Lord who dissolves inner darkness like Andhaka.
A practical takeaway is to counter “mada” through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility, and to adopt Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of impermanence and surrender.