Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
समरायोद्यतश्चाभूत्पुनर्गजमुखो विभुः । प्रहस्य जघ्नतुः क्रोधात्तोत्रेणैव महाद्विपम्
samarāyodyataścābhūtpunargajamukho vibhuḥ | prahasya jaghnatuḥ krodhāttotreṇaiva mahādvipam
மீண்டும் யானைமுகம் கொண்ட வல்லவன் போருக்கு ஆயத்தமானான். பின்னர் சிரித்தபடியே, கோபத்தில், அங்குசம் ஒன்றினாலேயே அந்தப் பெருயானையை வீழ்த்தினான்।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
The verse highlights divine mastery: the elephant-faced Lord (Gaṇeśa) needs no elaborate arsenal—his inner śakti is sufficient. In Shaiva thought, true power is disciplined power, used to restore dharma with minimal means.
Gaṇeśa’s battle-readiness and effortless victory reflect Saguna Shiva’s compassionate governance through His divine retinue. Worship of the Liṅga honors the transcendent Pati, while devotion to Gaṇeśa acknowledges the same Shiva-tattva operating in accessible, protective forms.
A practical takeaway is disciplined japa for steadiness in conflict—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—combined with mindful restraint of krodha (anger), so one acts firmly yet minimally for dharma.