Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः
Bāṇāsura’s Wrathful Command and the Onset of Battle at the Inner Palace
लक्षे हतेऽथ योधानां ततो बाणासुरो रुषा । कुभांडं स गृहीत्वा तु युद्धे शौंडं समाह्वयत्
lakṣe hate'tha yodhānāṃ tato bāṇāsuro ruṣā | kubhāṃḍaṃ sa gṛhītvā tu yuddhe śauṃḍaṃ samāhvayat
એક લાખ યોધાઓ હણાયા પછી બાણાસુર ક્રોધે દહકી ઊઠ્યો; કુંભાંડને પકડી તેણે યુદ્ધમાં પરાક્રમી શૌંડને લલકાર્યો।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse highlights how wrath (ruṣā) intensifies bondage: even after immense destruction, Bāṇāsura’s anger drives him to escalate conflict, illustrating the Shaiva Siddhānta insight that krodha strengthens pāśa (bondage) and delays inner peace and grace.
In the Yuddha-kathā, the contrast is implicit: asuras act from rajas and tamas, while devotees of Saguna Shiva (Linga-worship) are guided toward restraint, dharma, and surrender. The narrative functions as a mirror—showing what the mind becomes without anchoring in Shiva through worship and remembrance.
A practical takeaway is to counter anger with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to adopt calming Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence and steady breath with mantra to reduce rajas before it becomes destructive.