Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तेषां श्रुत्वा शब्दाननेकशः कुम्भोदरो महातेजा दण्डेनाताडयत्सुरान्
etasminnantare teṣāṃ śrutvā śabdānanekaśaḥ kumbhodaro mahātejā daṇḍenātāḍayatsurān
Pada saat itu, setelah mendengar jeritan mereka yang riuh berulang-ulang, Kumbhodara—bersinar dengan tenaga agung—memukul para dewa dengan tongkatnya, meruntuhkan keangkuhan dan memecahkan tekad mereka.
Suta (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It underscores that even the Devas are not autonomous; true refuge is Pati (Shiva). Linga worship trains the pashu (soul) to relinquish pride—an inner pasha (bondage)—and submit to Shiva’s cosmic governance.
Though Shiva is not named directly, his sovereignty is implied through the overpowering agency of his side—fierce, disciplined forces that restore order. Shiva-tattva functions as the supreme regulator: when dharma is disturbed by ego and noise, it is restrained.
The takeaway aligns with Pashupata discipline: restraint (niyama) and the curbing of rajasic agitation. The “staff” imagery suggests inner danda—self-control—by which the pashu becomes fit for Shiva-bhakti and Linga-upasana.