Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48
अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces
प्रायोभवास्तापसस्तज्जुषस्व क्षांतं मया यत्कमनीयमन्तः । मुनिर्विरोधव्य इति प्रचिंत्य न त्वं मुनिस्तापस किं तु शत्रुः
prāyobhavāstāpasastajjuṣasva kṣāṃtaṃ mayā yatkamanīyamantaḥ | munirvirodhavya iti praciṃtya na tvaṃ munistāpasa kiṃ tu śatruḥ
おお苦行者よ、もし汝が真に節制と断食によって生きる者なら、この言葉を受けよ。われは胸の奥に燃える痛みを耐え忍んだ。「牟尼には逆らうべきでない」と思い、われは抑えた。だが汝は牟尼ではない、タパスヴィンよ――まことに汝は敵である。
An aggrieved warrior/king addressing a disguised ascetic opponent (tāpasa) in the battle narrative of the Yuddhakhaṇḍa
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse teaches discernment (viveka): outer marks of tapas do not make one a muni. In Shaiva ethics, true asceticism is inner purity and non-harming; when that is absent, “ascetic” becomes mere disguise, and dharma permits firm resistance.
Linga-worship emphasizes inner sincerity over external show. This verse aligns with Saguna Shiva’s role as Dharmapāla—upholding truth and exposing hypocrisy—reminding devotees that devotion must transform character, not merely appearance.
Practice kṣamā (forbearance) with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while maintaining discernment: do not enable adharma. A practical takeaway is daily japa with bhāva (inner intent) rather than performative austerity.