Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict
एवं संब्रुवतेऽमुष्मै परिघं भ्रामयन् स च । चिक्षेप विष्णवे तत्र शक्तिपुत्रो गणेश्वरः
evaṃ saṃbruvate'muṣmai parighaṃ bhrāmayan sa ca | cikṣepa viṣṇave tatra śaktiputro gaṇeśvaraḥ
அவனிடம் இவ்வாறு பேசிக்கொண்டே சக்தியின் புதல்வனான கணேஸ்வரன் இரும்புக் கம்பைச் சுழற்றி அங்கேயே விஷ்ணுவின் மீது எறிந்தான்.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Shakti Form: Durgā
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights Śakti’s operative power (Śakti-tattva) expressed through Gaṇeśa: divine energy acts decisively to uphold dharma in the Lord’s play, reminding seekers that true power is not egoic force but the Goddess’s sanctioned potency aligned with Śiva’s order.
Though the scene is martial, it reinforces Saguna devotion: Gaṇeśa, as Śiva’s gaṇa-leader and Śakti’s son, functions as an instrument of the Supreme. In Linga/Saguna worship, devotees honor this hierarchy—Śiva as Pati, Śakti as His inseparable power, and Gaṇeśa as the remover of obstacles who protects the path of worship.
A practical takeaway is to begin all Śaiva worship with Gaṇeśa-smaraṇa and steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), cultivating inner restraint so that one’s ‘force’ becomes disciplined devotion rather than reactive anger.