Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39
शिवतेजसः समुद्रे बालरूपप्रादुर्भावः (Śiva’s Tejas Manifesting as a Child in the Ocean)
ते कालनेमिप्रमुखास्ततोऽसुरास्तस्मै सुतां सिंधुसुताय दत्त्वा । बभूवुरत्यन्तमुदान्विता हि तमाश्रिता देव विनिर्जयाय
te kālanemipramukhāstato'surāstasmai sutāṃ siṃdhusutāya dattvā | babhūvuratyantamudānvitā hi tamāśritā deva vinirjayāya
അപ്പോൾ കാലനേമി മുതലായ അസുരർ സിന്ധുപുത്രനു തങ്ങളുടെ പുത്രിയെ വിവാഹമായി നൽകി അത്യന്തം ആഹ്ലാദിച്ചു; ഹേ ദേവാ, ദേവന്മാരുടെ സമ്പൂർണ്ണ പരാജയത്തിനായി അവർ അവനെയേ ശരണം പ്രാപിച്ചു.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It shows an Asuric mindset: seeking victory through external alliances and power, rather than purification and surrender to Pati (Shiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it highlights how pasha-bound beings pursue domination instead of liberation.
By contrast: true āśraya (refuge) in the Shiva Purana is taking shelter in Shiva—often through Linga worship and devotion—leading to protection and inner victory. Here, the Asuras take refuge in a worldly ally for outward conquest, not in Saguna Shiva for dharma and grace.
The implied takeaway is to choose divine refuge over worldly dependence: daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a dharmic sankalpa for self-conquest, rather than cultivating conquest-driven intent.