Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41
गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः
Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds
यां यां दिशं समभ्येति सोयं दुस्सह दानवः । अवध्योऽहं भवामीति स्त्रीपुंसैः कामनिर्जितैः
yāṃ yāṃ diśaṃ samabhyeti soyaṃ dussaha dānavaḥ | avadhyo'haṃ bhavāmīti strīpuṃsaiḥ kāmanirjitaiḥ
Ke mana jua arah raksasa (dānava) yang tidak tertahan ini mara, di situlah ia melaungkan: “Aku kebal, aku tidak dapat dibunuh,” sementara lelaki dan perempuan—ditundukkan oleh nafsu—tunduk di bawah pengaruhnya.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Cosmic Event: Ethical-cosmic disorder: kāma (desire) subjugates society, enabling adharma and the demon’s perceived invincibility.
FAQs
The verse contrasts a demon’s boast of invulnerability with the deeper Shaiva lesson that ego (ahaṅkāra) and desire (kāma) intoxicate beings, making them spiritually “defeated” even before any battle; true strength is mastery of the senses and surrender to Pati (Shiva), not domination over others.
The Linga signifies Shiva as the transcendent Lord who alone subdues the forces of adharma; devotion to Saguna Shiva (as protector and remover of arrogance) is presented implicitly as the remedy for the demon’s pride and the people’s kāma-driven helplessness.
A practical takeaway is kāma-nigraha through Shiva-upāsanā: daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), wearing Rudraksha with disciplined conduct, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of detachment and the impermanence of sensual conquest.