Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25
अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins
कृष्णसैन्यं विदुद्राव प्रतिवीरेण निर्जितम् । न तस्थौ समरे व्यास पूर्णरुद्रसुतेजसा
kṛṣṇasainyaṃ vidudrāva prativīreṇa nirjitam | na tasthau samare vyāsa pūrṇarudrasutejasā
कृष्णसैन्यं विदुद्राव प्रतिवीरेण निर्जितम् । न तस्थौ समरे व्यास पूर्णरुद्रसुतेजसा ॥
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, addressing Vyāsa within the retold narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse highlights that mere numbers and worldly strength collapse before Rudra-tejas—Shiva’s divine potency. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it points to Pati (Shiva) as the supreme source of power, before whom the pashu (bound soul) and its supports (pāśa) cannot stand without grace and right alignment.
Rudra-tejas here is a Saguna expression of Shiva’s active grace and protection. Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize that all victorious power ultimately belongs to Shiva, and that steadfastness in life’s ‘battlefield’ comes from anchoring the mind in Shiva through devotion and disciplined worship.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate inner steadiness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, praying for Rudra’s tejas to burn fear, agitation, and ego—so the mind does not ‘flee’ under pressure.