Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
कायेन वाचा मनसाप्यगम्या नारी नृलोकस्य च दुर्लभाय । तां कामयानस्य ममास्तु नाशो दैत्येन्द्रभावाद्भगवान्स्वयंभूः
kāyena vācā manasāpyagamyā nārī nṛlokasya ca durlabhāya | tāṃ kāmayānasya mamāstu nāśo daityendrabhāvādbhagavānsvayaṃbhūḥ
जो स्त्री देह, वाणी और मन से भी अगम्य है और मनुष्य-लोक में अत्यन्त दुर्लभ है—यदि उसके प्रति कामना से प्रेरित होकर मेरा विनाश ही हो, तो स्वयम्भू भगवान् मुझे नष्ट करें, चाहे वह दैत्येन्द्र-भाव से ही क्यों न हो।
A daitya/āsura leader (the demon-king figure speaking in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, as recounted by Sūta)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It shows how kama (desire) and asuric pride can overpower discernment, leading one to accept even ruin; in Shaiva terms, such desire becomes a pāśa (bond) that drags the soul away from Shiva-oriented dharma.
By contrast: the verse depicts mind-bound craving, while Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship trains body, speech, and mind to turn from craving to bhakti—redirecting the same inner force toward Shiva rather than toward possessive desire.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with restraint of senses, coupled with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as reminders to purify desire into devotion.