Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict
स ददर्शागतं शंभुं शूलह्स्तं महेश्वरम् । हंतुकामं निजं वीरश्शिवापुत्रो महाबलः
sa dadarśāgataṃ śaṃbhuṃ śūlahstaṃ maheśvaram | haṃtukāmaṃ nijaṃ vīraśśivāputro mahābalaḥ
அப்போது மகாபலமுடைய வீரன்—சிவையின் புதல்வன்—சூலத்தை கையில் கொண்ட மகேஸ்வரன் சம்பு தன்னை அழிக்க எண்ணி வருவதை கண்டான்।
Sūta Gosvāmi
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It shows the supremacy of Pati (Śiva) over all beings: even a powerful opponent must face the Lord’s sovereign will. In Shaiva Siddhānta, this underscores that egoic strength cannot prevail over divine grace and authority.
The verse presents Saguna Śiva—Śambhu with the trident—making the divine accessible through form and action. Such depictions support devotional worship (bhakti) where the devotee contemplates Śiva’s protective and corrective power, which the Liṅga also signifies in a transcendent, aniconic way.
Meditate on Śiva as the inner ruler who removes hostility and ego; chant the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a steady mind, and (where traditional) apply tripuṇḍra bhasma as a reminder of surrender to Śiva’s purifying power.