Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 32
Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma
राक्षसो गृहमागत्य ब्रह्माप्तातिबलस्तदा । मातरं प्रणिपत्याशु स भीमः प्राह गर्ववान्
rākṣaso gṛhamāgatya brahmāptātibalastadā | mātaraṃ praṇipatyāśu sa bhīmaḥ prāha garvavān
ત્યારે તે ભયંકર રાક્ષસ ઘેર આવી, જાણે બ્રહ્માથી પ્રાપ્ત થયેલ અતુલ બળથી યુક્ત થઈ, તરત જ માતાને પ્રણામ કરીને ગર્વથી ફૂલાઈ બોલ્યો।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
It highlights how worldly power—especially power gained by boons—can inflate ego; Shaiva teaching stresses humility and surrender, because pride becomes a binding pāśa (bond) that veils grace.
The verse sets up the contrast between demonic self-assertion and the devotee’s attitude in Linga worship: approaching Saguna Shiva with namaskāra (reverent bowing) and dropping arrogance to become fit for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
Practice inner and outer namaskāra: before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivate humility, consciously offering pride into Shiva as a mental pūjā.