Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9
दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot
Pre-battle Portents
क्षणांतरे वृषेन्द्रोऽपि जानुभ्यामगमद्धराम् । रथारूढमहेशस्य सुतेजस्सोढुमक्षमः
kṣaṇāṃtare vṛṣendro'pi jānubhyāmagamaddharām | rathārūḍhamaheśasya sutejassoḍhumakṣamaḥ
ಮುಂದಿನ ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ವೃಷೇಂದ್ರನೂ ಮೊಣಕಾಲುಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದನು. ರಥಾರೂಢ ಮಹೇಶನ ದಿವ್ಯ ತೇಜಸ್ಸನ್ನು ತಾಳಲಾರದೆ ಹೋಯಿತು.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, as typical for the Rudrasaṃhitā narration)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Cosmic Event: tejas-overflow: even divine supports collapse before Mahādeva’s splendor
FAQs
It emphasizes Śiva’s overwhelming tejas (divine radiance): even the noblest attendant like Nandi is humbled, indicating that liberation depends not on strength but on Śiva’s grace and inner purity.
Mahādeva’s visible splendor here reflects Saguna Śiva—approachable through devotion and worship. In Linga-worship, the devotee reveres the same supreme Reality in a form that the mind can steadily contemplate without being overwhelmed.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and steadiness, supported by Śiva-purity disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and restraint of the senses, so the mind can bear and receive Śiva’s light.