Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21
गणेश-षण्मुखयोः विवाहविचारः / Deliberation on the Marriages of Gaṇeśa and Ṣaṇmukha
किं कर्तव्यं क्व गंतव्यं लंघितुं नैव शक्यते । क्रोशमात्रं गतः स्याद्वै गम्यते न मया पुनः
kiṃ kartavyaṃ kva gaṃtavyaṃ laṃghituṃ naiva śakyate | krośamātraṃ gataḥ syādvai gamyate na mayā punaḥ
“Apakah yang harus aku lakukan, dan ke manakah harus aku pergi? Halangan ini sama sekali tidak dapat dilangkahi. Walaupun aku telah pergi hanya sejauh satu krośa, aku tidak mampu meneruskan perjalanan lagi.”
A distressed character in the Kumārakhaṇḍa narrative (as narrated by Sūta to the sages)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: No jyotirliṅga reference; the verse expresses incapacity before an uncrossable obstacle, a narrative emblem of limitation (bandha) that Siddhānta reads as pāśa (mala/karma/māyā) constraining the paśu.
FAQs
It portrays the soul’s helplessness when limited human effort reaches its boundary; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such a moment points toward śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Pati (Śiva), whose grace alone enables one to pass beyond impeding conditions (pāśa).
When progress is obstructed, the Purana’s practical thrust is to turn to Saguna Śiva—remembering and worshipping the Linga as the accessible form of the Supreme—invoking His anugraha (grace) to remove impediments and restore right direction.
A direct takeaway is to pause and take refuge in Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), ideally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and remembrance while seeking divine guidance.