Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)
तद्भार्गवेणाद्य कृतं वृथा नस्संजीवतांस्तान्हि मृतान्विपक्षान् । आवर्त्य विद्यां मृतजीवदात्रीमेकेकमुद्दिश्य सहेलमीश
tadbhārgaveṇādya kṛtaṃ vṛthā nassaṃjīvatāṃstānhi mṛtānvipakṣān | āvartya vidyāṃ mṛtajīvadātrīmekekamuddiśya sahelamīśa
主よ、今日バールガヴァのなしたことは、我らにとって空しいこととなりました。すでに死した敵兵を、彼が蘇らせているからです。死者に命を授けるヴィディヤーを呼び戻し、彼は一人また一人と、たやすく彼らを生き返らせております。
A deva-side warrior/attendant addressing Lord Shiva (Īśa) during the battle narrative, as relayed by Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It highlights the limitation of mere force in conflict: when opponents are revived again and again by mantra-vidyā, victory becomes “vṛthā” (futile), pointing to the need for the higher sovereignty of Īśa (Shiva) beyond worldly tactics.
By addressing Shiva as Īśa, the verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord who governs life, death, and the efficacy of powers; devotion to Shiva (often through Linga worship) is presented as reliance on the supreme controller rather than on secondary occult abilities.
The takeaway is to seek protection and steadiness through Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and remembrance of Īśa—rather than depending on worldly “vidyās”; this aligns with Shaiva discipline supported by bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and mantra.