Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
शिवदूतेन युद्धनिश्चयः तथा देवदानवयुद्धारम्भः (Śiva’s Envoy and the Commencement of the Deva–Dānava War)
सर्वतश्शरकूटेन वीरस्सरथसारथिम् । वीरं संछादयामास प्रावृट्सूर्यमिवांबुदः
sarvataśśarakūṭena vīrassarathasārathim | vīraṃ saṃchādayāmāsa prāvṛṭsūryamivāṃbudaḥ
ਉਸ ਪਰਾਕ੍ਰਮੀ ਯੋਧੇ ਨੇ ਹਰ ਪਾਸੇ ਤੋਂ ਤੀਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਘਣੀ ਬੌਛਾਰ ਕਰਕੇ ਰਥ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਰਥੀ ਸਮੇਤ ਉਸ ਵੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਐਸਾ ਢੱਕ ਲਿਆ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਵਰਖਾ ਰੁੱਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੱਦਲ ਸੂਰਜ ਨੂੰ ਓਹਲੇ ਕਰ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
Cosmic Event: Monsoon imagery: cloud veiling the sun (upamā for concealment/obscuration).
FAQs
The image of the sun veiled by monsoon clouds points to how clarity of awareness can be temporarily obscured by the ‘storm’ of karmic forces and conflict; in Shaiva Siddhanta, the Self’s light is constant, while obscuration is incidental and removable through Shiva’s grace and disciplined devotion.
In battle narratives, the devotee’s refuge is Saguna Shiva—approached through Linga-worship—as the stable center when external conditions ‘cover’ one’s peace; the Linga signifies the unshaken Reality that remains even when the mind is clouded by turmoil.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to restore inner luminosity when the mind feels ‘covered’; optionally, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing rudrākṣa can reinforce remembrance and steadiness during adversity.