Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins
विभीषिकाभिर्बह्वीभिः कोटरीभिः पदेपदे । निर्ल्लज्जाभिश्च नारीभिः प्रबलाभिरदूरतः
vibhīṣikābhirbahvībhiḥ koṭarībhiḥ padepade | nirllajjābhiśca nārībhiḥ prabalābhiradūrataḥ
Pada setiap langkah tampak banyak penampakan mengerikan dan cekungan seperti gua; dan tidak jauh, terlihat para perempuan raksasi yang kuat dan tak tahu malu—tanda-tanda ketakutan bangkit di segala arah.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It portrays fearsome portents that symbolize the instability of saṃsāra and the mind’s projections; Shaiva Siddhanta points the devotee to take refuge in Pati (Shiva), who alone is steady when the world appears terrifying.
In the Yuddha narrative, such omens intensify the need for surrender to Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga as the accessible, protective form through which Shiva grants fearlessness (abhaya) and steadies the devotee.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra bhasma-dhāraṇa to calm fear and anchor awareness in Shiva during distressing conditions.