Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10
शिवशङ्खचूडयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa
तदंगेषु च शस्त्रोघैस्ताडयामास कोपतः । महारुद्रो विरूपाक्षो दुष्टदण्डस्सतां गति
tadaṃgeṣu ca śastroghaistāḍayāmāsa kopataḥ | mahārudro virūpākṣo duṣṭadaṇḍassatāṃ gati
ત્યારે ક્રોધમાં મહારુદ્ર—વિરૂપાક્ષ—એ શસ્ત્રવર્ષાથી તેના અંગો પર પ્રહાર કર્યો. તે દુષ્ટોનો દંડકર્તા અને સજ્જનોની પરમ ગતિ છે.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse presents Śiva as both Niyantā (divine governor) and Anugrahakartā (bestower of grace): he restrains adharmic forces (duṣṭa-daṇḍa) while remaining the ultimate refuge and goal for the virtuous (satāṃ gatiḥ).
Though the scene is martial, it points to Saguna Śiva—who acts within the world to protect dharma. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see the same Supreme Lord behind both fierce protection and compassionate refuge.
A practical takeaway is to take shelter in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a dharmic intention—seeking inner purification so one moves from wicked tendencies toward sat (the virtuous path).