Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46
अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces
तैस्तैः प्रहारैरपि जर्ज रांगस्तस्मिन् रणे देवगणेरितैर्यः । जगाद वाक्यं तु सगर्वमुग्रं प्रविश्य शंभुं प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना
taistaiḥ prahārairapi jarja rāṃgastasmin raṇe devagaṇeritairyaḥ | jagāda vākyaṃ tu sagarvamugraṃ praviśya śaṃbhuṃ praṇipatya mūrdhnā
Embora seu corpo estivesse despedaçado por tantos golpes naquela batalha, instigada pelas hostes dos deuses, ainda assim ele entrou diante de Śambhu (o Senhor Śiva) e, inclinando a cabeça em submissão, proferiu palavras ferozes, cheias de orgulho.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It highlights the tension between garva (ego) and praṇipāta (outer surrender): even when one bows to Śiva, liberation requires inner humility—true surrender to Pati (Śiva), not merely physical prostration.
Śambhu here is approached as Saguna Śiva—personally present and accessible. The verse underscores that approaching the Lord (as in liṅga-pūjā) must be accompanied by purified intention; pride can coexist with ritual, but bhakti aims to dissolve it.
Practice praṇāma with bhāva (inner reverence) before Śiva—mentally offering ego at His feet while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” so that the gesture of bowing becomes genuine inner surrender.