Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र तारकाख्यो महाबलः । सैन्येन महता सद्यो ययौ योद्धुं सुरान् प्रति
etasminnantare tatra tārakākhyo mahābalaḥ | sainyena mahatā sadyo yayau yoddhuṃ surān prati
അതിനിടയിൽ, അതേ നിമിഷം, ‘താരക’ എന്ന മഹാബലൻ മഹാസൈന്യത്തോടുകൂടി ദേവന്മാരെതിരെ യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യാൻ ഉടൻ പുറപ്പെട്ടു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It marks the surge of asuric power (Tāraka) moving outward as conflict, symbolizing how unchecked ego and ambition rush to oppose divine order; in Shaiva thought, such forces are ultimately subdued only by Shiva’s grace restoring dharma.
Though the verse is narrative, it supports the larger Shaiva frame: the Devas’ protection and the defeat of Tāraka unfold through Shiva’s saguna līlā—Shiva’s purposeful manifestation in time to re-establish cosmic balance.
A practical takeaway is to counter ‘inner Tāraka’ (anger, pride, restlessness) with steady japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a disciplined, sattvic routine, invoking Shiva as Pati who loosens the bonds (pāśa).