Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
तथाविधांश्च तान् दृष्ट्वा तद्वृत्तांतं निशम्य सः । अपारमादधे कोपं हरो लीलाविशारदः
tathāvidhāṃśca tān dṛṣṭvā tadvṛttāṃtaṃ niśamya saḥ | apāramādadhe kopaṃ haro līlāviśāradaḥ
तथाविधान् तान् दृष्ट्वा तद्वृत्तान्तं च निशम्य सः। लीलाविशारदो हरः अपारं कोपमादधे॥
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Type: stotra
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse shows Saguna Śiva responding to adharma: His “anger” is not ordinary passion but a purposeful divine force that protects devotees and restores cosmic order, while remaining inwardly sovereign (Pati) over all states.
It highlights Saguna Śiva—Hara—who engages the world through līlā for the sake of grace and correction. In Linga worship, devotees approach this same compassionate Lord whose dynamic powers act to remove obstacles and uphold dharma.
A practical takeaway is to seek Śiva’s protection through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and to cultivate inner restraint—offering one’s reactive anger into devotion, as Śiva’s power is righteous and dharma-aligned.