Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra
वृद्धब्राह्मणवेषेण विष्णुर्मायाविनां वरः । शङ्खचूडोपकंठं च गत्वोवाच स तं तदा
vṛddhabrāhmaṇaveṣeṇa viṣṇurmāyāvināṃ varaḥ | śaṅkhacūḍopakaṃṭhaṃ ca gatvovāca sa taṃ tadā
वृद्धब्राह्मणवेषेण विष्णुर्मायाविनां वरः । शङ्खचूडोपकण्ठं गत्वा तं प्राह स तदा ॥
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
The verse highlights how māyā can be used as a dharmic instrument to expose and dissolve ego-driven power. In Shaiva perspective, such events ultimately support Shiva’s cosmic order by steering beings away from delusion and toward right discernment.
Though Shiva is not directly named here, the Yuddha Khanda context serves Shiva’s līlā of restoring dharma. Devotion to Saguna Shiva (as the active Lord guiding events) is strengthened by seeing how divine agencies operate to protect the moral order that supports linga-worship and spiritual discipline.
A practical takeaway is vigilance against māyā through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namah Shivaya”) and steadying the mind with simple daily Shiva-upasana, so one is not misled by appearances or pride.