Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्
Search for Kārttikeya and the Nandī Dialogue
क्षितिरुवाच । वीर्यं सोढुमशक्ताहं तद्वह्नो न्यक्षिपं पुरा । अतोऽत्र दुर्वहं ब्रह्मन्नबलां क्षंतुमर्हसि
kṣitiruvāca | vīryaṃ soḍhumaśaktāhaṃ tadvahno nyakṣipaṃ purā | ato'tra durvahaṃ brahmannabalāṃ kṣaṃtumarhasi
பூமி கூறினாள்—அந்த வீரியத்தைத் தாங்க இயலாததால், முன்பு அதை அக்னியில் எறிந்தேன். ஆகவே, ஓ பிரம்மனே, இங்கே அதைத் தாங்குதல் மிகக் கடினம்; நான் பலவீனமானவள், என்மீது பொறுத்தருள்வாயாக.
Kṣiti (Bhūdevī / Earth)
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Bhūdevī’s confession that she cannot ‘soḍhum’ (bear) Śiva’s tejas and must pass it to Agni illustrates graded receptacles for divine power—an etiological step in Kumāra’s advent.
Significance: Teaches humility and the need for proper containment (pātra) in ritual and yoga: even Earth requires mediation to hold Śiva’s śakti.
FAQs
It shows that even cosmic powers like Earth have limited capacity before overwhelming divine śakti; humility and truthful confession become the doorway for grace and restoration of dharma.
The verse points to Shiva’s tangible (saguṇa) working through creation—His potency moves through cosmic agents (Earth and Agni). Linga-worship trains the devotee to approach that immense power with reverence, restraint, and surrender rather than ego.
A practical takeaway is to offer one’s burdens into sacred fire (Agni) through a simple Śiva-focused sankalpa, while japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivates inner forbearance (kṣamā) and steadiness.