Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
सनत्कुमार उवाच । ते गणाधिपतीन्दृष्ट्वा नन्दीभमुखषण्मुखान् । अमर्षादभ्यधावंत द्वंद्वयुद्धाय दानवाः
sanatkumāra uvāca | te gaṇādhipatīndṛṣṭvā nandībhamukhaṣaṇmukhān | amarṣādabhyadhāvaṃta dvaṃdvayuddhāya dānavāḥ
Sanatkumāra bersabda: Melihat para ketua gaṇa Śiva—Nandin, Bhṛṅgī dan Ṣaṇmukha—para dānava yang menyala oleh amarah yang dahsyat pun menerjang ke hadapan untuk bertarung satu lawan satu.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It contrasts the disciplined, dharma-aligned force of Śiva’s gaṇas with the asuric impulse of amarṣa (resentful anger), showing how ego-driven rage propels beings into conflict, while Śiva’s side stands for order under Pati (the Lord).
The gaṇas are extensions of Saguna Śiva’s protective governance in the world; honoring Śiva (as Liṅga and as the personal Lord) is also honoring the dharmic order He upholds—where devotion steadies the mind against the asuric surge of anger.
A practical takeaway is anger-discipline through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa, cultivating steadiness so the mind does not ‘rush’ into reactive combat like the dānavas.