Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization
ततस्त्वेको दैत्यस्तदपि युयुधे शुष्करुधिरस्तलाघातैर्घोरैशनिसदृशैर्जानुचरणैः । नखैर्वज्राकारैर्मुखभुजशिरोभिश्च गिरिशं स्मरन् क्षात्रं धर्मं स्वकुल विहितं शाश्वतमजम्
tatastveko daityastadapi yuyudhe śuṣkarudhirastalāghātairghoraiśanisadṛśairjānucaraṇaiḥ | nakhairvajrākārairmukhabhujaśirobhiśca giriśaṃ smaran kṣātraṃ dharmaṃ svakula vihitaṃ śāśvatamajam
Alors un certain Daitya—le sang déjà desséché—continuait pourtant de combattre, portant de terribles coups de paume, pareils au tonnerre, et se servant de ses genoux et de ses pieds comme d’armes. Avec des ongles semblables au vajra, et aussi avec son visage, ses bras et sa tête, il assaillit Girīśa, se souvenant du dharma du guerrier—ordonnance éternelle, sans naissance—imposée à sa propre lignée.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It shows that even fierce, dharma-framed effort (kṣātra-dharma) remains limited when driven by daityic nature; true auspiciousness is to turn remembrance (smaraṇa) toward Śiva as the Pati who alone grants liberation beyond mere valor.
By naming Śiva as Girīśa, the verse points to Saguna Śiva—personally encountered in līlā and battle—whom devotees worship through liṅga-upāsanā; remembrance of Śiva in any state becomes a doorway from outward action to inward devotion.
The key practice implied is smaraṇa (constant remembrance) of Śiva; as a practical Shaiva takeaway, one may pair this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to transform agitation into devotion.