Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī
मुहूर्तमात्रं तत्क्लेशं विनीय स महाबलः । चेतनां प्राप्य चोत्तस्थौ जगर्ज हरिवर्च सः
muhūrtamātraṃ tatkleśaṃ vinīya sa mahābalaḥ | cetanāṃ prāpya cottasthau jagarja harivarca saḥ
क्षणभर तो क्लेश सहन करून तो महाबली पुन्हा शुद्धीवर आला. मग उठून उभा राहिला आणि हरिसमान तेजाने दीप्त होऊन गर्जना करू लागला.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Rudra Samhita’s Yuddhakhaṇḍa narration)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It highlights resilience after kleśa (affliction): even when struck down, the inner consciousness can be restored, and steadfast dharma reasserts itself—an image of the soul’s recovery through divine order and grace.
In Saguna devotion, Shiva’s līlā in battle becomes a contemplative aid: the devotee remembers that apparent defeat is temporary, while the Lord’s protecting power restores strength—mirrored in Linga worship as steadiness and re-centering of awareness.
A practical takeaway is to regain ‘cetanā’ through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm breath-awareness; applying bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) can be used as a reminder to endure fleeting distress and return to Shiva-centered composure.