Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
देवाः वैकुण्ठगमनम् तथा विष्णोः अवतारस्तुतिः | Devas Go to Vaikuṇṭha and Praise Viṣṇu’s Avatāras
युद्धोद्यतं समालोक्य देवसैन्यमुपस्थितम् । दैत्यानाज्ञापयामास समरे चातिदुर्मदान्
yuddhodyataṃ samālokya devasainyamupasthitam | daityānājñāpayāmāsa samare cātidurmadān
युद्धास सज्ज देवसेना उपस्थित पाहून त्याने समरात अतिदुर्मद दैत्यांना युद्ध करण्याची आज्ञा दिली।
Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages, as typical of the Purana’s frame narration)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse highlights “mada” (arrogant pride) as a key mark of adharma: when ego dominates, beings rush toward conflict and downfall. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such pride strengthens pāśa (bondage), while divine order ultimately restrains it to re-establish dharma.
Though not directly naming the Liṅga, the battle setting reflects Saguna Shiva’s governance of cosmic order: dharma is protected and adharma is checked. Devotional worship of Shiva as Pati (Lord) is aligned with humility and surrender, the opposite of the Daityas’ “atidurmada.”
A practical takeaway is cultivating humility through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and self-examination to weaken “mada.” If observing Shaiva vrata, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and remembering Shiva as the inner ruler can support steadiness amid conflict.