Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63
बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle
सनत्कुमार उवाच । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः । विस्मितोभून्मुनिश्रेष्ठ कन्यायाः श्रुतदूषणः
sanatkumāra uvāca | teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā dānavendro mahābalaḥ | vismitobhūnmuniśreṣṭha kanyāyāḥ śrutadūṣaṇaḥ
સનત્કુમાર બોલ્યા—હે મુનિશ્રેષ્ઠ! તેમની વાત સાંભળીને મહાબલી દાનવાધિપતિ અતિ આશ્ચર્યમાં પડ્યો; કારણ કે તેણે તે કન્યા વિષે નિંદાત્મક વાતો સાંભળી હતી.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse highlights how hearing blame and distorted reports can shock the mind; Shaiva teaching urges viveka (discernment) and inner steadiness, aligning one’s speech and perception with dharma rather than reacting from agitation.
Though not explicitly mentioning the Liṅga, the episode reflects a common Shaiva ethic: the devotee anchors the mind in Śiva (Saguna support through mantra and worship) so that praise and blame do not derail right action.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize the mind when exposed to slander or disturbing speech, along with mindful restraint of one’s own words (vāg-yama).