Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः
Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts
वाराणस्येव मत्तस्य जगाम प्रेक्षणीयताम् । ततस्तत्क्षोभयामास महत्सुरबलं बली
vārāṇasyeva mattasya jagāma prekṣaṇīyatām | tatastatkṣobhayāmāsa mahatsurabalaṃ balī
Dia menjadi tontonan yang mengagumkan—seperti gajah yang mengamuk; lalu sang perkasa itu menggelorakan dan mengacaukan bala tentera besar para dewa.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
The image of a “maddened elephant” conveys overwhelming, uncontrolled force; spiritually it mirrors how worldly power or ego can create kṣobha (agitation). Shaiva Siddhanta points the seeker toward Pati (Shiva) as the stabilizing refuge beyond such turbulence.
When cosmic order (even the devas’ host) is disturbed, devotees turn to Saguna Shiva—often worshipped as the Linga—as the accessible form of the Supreme who restores balance and grants inner steadiness amid external conflict.
A practical takeaway is to counter “kṣobha” with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and steadying practices like Tripundra (bhasma) remembrance and breath-centered meditation, seeking Shiva’s calm presence rather than reacting to agitation.