Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
कालनेमिश्च संकुद्धो धनुश्चिच्छेद नंदिनः । स्वशरासननिर्मुक्तैर्महातीक्ष्णैश्शिलीमुखैः
kālanemiśca saṃkuddho dhanuściccheda naṃdinaḥ | svaśarāsananirmuktairmahātīkṣṇaiśśilīmukhaiḥ
Kālanemi yang murka melepaskan anak panah bermata besi yang amat tajam dari tali busurnya sendiri, lalu memutuskan busur Nandin.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
The verse highlights how ego-driven rage (Kālanemi’s fury) attacks the instruments of dharma (Nandin’s bow), yet devotion to Śiva remains unbroken—outer weapons may be cut, but the Śaiva’s inner steadfastness and divine support endure.
Nandin is the foremost attendant and emblem of Saguna Śiva’s living presence—service to Śiva’s forms, symbols, and devotees is treated as service to Śiva Himself. The battle imagery reinforces protecting Śiva’s order (gaṇa-dharma) centered on the Lord’s worship.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate steadiness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined Śaiva conduct (bhasma/tripuṇḍra and devotion to Śiva’s attendants), so that anger and adversity do not “cut” one’s spiritual resolve.