Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
तेनैव यत्नतः पूर्वमसुरौ मधुकैटभौ । शिरौहीनौ कृतौ धौर्त्याद्वेदमार्गो विवर्जितः
tenaiva yatnataḥ pūrvamasurau madhukaiṭabhau | śirauhīnau kṛtau dhaurtyādvedamārgo vivarjitaḥ
उसी ने पहले यत्नपूर्वक मधु और कैटभ—इन दोनों असुरों को शिरोहीन कर दिया। पर धूर्तता-जन्य अधर्म से वेद-मार्ग का परित्याग किया गया।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Cosmic Event: mythic primordial conflict (Madhu-Kaiṭabha episode)
FAQs
It highlights that mere destruction of evil is not the full victory; when deceit and adharma prevail, the Vedic way of right conduct is forsaken—blocking the soul’s (paśu’s) purification needed for Shiva’s grace.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is tied to dharma and inner purity; this verse warns that abandoning the Vedic path through deceit undermines the very foundation required for fruitful Saguna Shiva worship and divine protection.
The takeaway is to restore dharmic discipline: daily Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with truthful conduct; otherwise ritual becomes hollow and cannot remove pāśa (bondage).