Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization
यदा सैन्यासैन्यं पशुपतिहतादन्यदभवद्व्रणोत्थैरत्युष्णैः पिशितनिसृतैर्बिन्दुभिरलम् । तदा विष्णुर्योगा त्प्रमथपतिमाहूय मतिमान् चकारोग्रं रूपं विकृतवदनं स्त्रैणमजितम्
yadā sainyāsainyaṃ paśupatihatādanyadabhavadvraṇotthairatyuṣṇaiḥ piśitanisṛtairbindubhiralam | tadā viṣṇuryogā tpramathapatimāhūya matimān cakārograṃ rūpaṃ vikṛtavadanaṃ straiṇamajitam
Lorsque les armées adverses, frappées par Paśupati, devinrent tout autres—éclaboussées partout de gouttes brûlantes s’écoulant de la chair et des plaies—alors le sage Viṣṇu, par la puissance du yoga, appela le seigneur des Pramathas et façonna une forme farouche : invincible, au visage difforme, prenant une apparence féminine.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Role: liberating
FAQs
It underscores Paśupati (Śiva) as the supreme Pati whose power overwhelms worldly force; even divine beings resort to yoga and strategy, while liberation arises through surrender to Śiva rather than reliance on mere might.
Paśupati here is Saguna Śiva—personally active as Lord of beings and of the gaṇas. Linga-worship similarly approaches Śiva as the accessible, compassionate Lord who subdues chaos and grants protection and grace.
A practical takeaway is yogic recollection of Paśupati with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivating śaraṇāgati (surrender), recognizing that true victory is the pacification of inner passions.