Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
उत्पातवर्णनम् / Description of Portents at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
भुवि ते मूर्छिताः पेतुर्हा हताः स्म इतीरयन् । तरवस्तीरसंजाता नदीवेगहता इव
bhuvi te mūrchitāḥ peturhā hatāḥ sma itīrayan | taravastīrasaṃjātā nadīvegahatā iva
Восклицая: «Увы, мы убиты!», они без чувств пали на землю — словно деревья на речном берегу, поваленные стремительным напором разлива.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
Cosmic Event: collective fainting under utpāta; simile of flood-current uprooting riverbank trees
FAQs
The verse uses the flood-and-trees simile to show how overwhelming divine events can shatter ordinary composure, pushing beings toward humility and detachment—key dispositions for turning to Pati (Shiva) beyond worldly supports.
Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna-bhakti by portraying the irresistible power of Shiva’s līlā: when worldly strength collapses, devotees seek steadiness in Shiva’s accessible forms—especially the Linga as a stabilizing focus for devotion and refuge.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and to cultivate inner composure (śama) when shaken—using Linga-dhyāna as an anchor rather than reacting in panic.