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
Kemudian para Asura yang dipimpin oleh Kālanemi menyerahkan puteri mereka sebagai isteri kepada putera Sindhu. Dengan sukacita yang meluap, wahai Deva, mereka berlindung kepadanya demi menumpaskan para dewa sepenuhnya.
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.