Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra
तच्छ्रुत्वा दानवेन्द्रोसौ ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवाग्विभुः । तद्ददौ कवचं दिव्यं विप्राय प्राणसंमतम्
tacchrutvā dānavendrosau brahmaṇyaḥ satyavāgvibhuḥ | taddadau kavacaṃ divyaṃ viprāya prāṇasaṃmatam
அதைக் கேட்ட தானவர்களின் தலைவன்—பிராமணபக்தன், சத்தியவாக்கு உடையவன், வல்லமைமிக்கவன்—அந்த அந்தணருக்கு உயிர்போல் அருமையான தெய்வீகக் கவசத்தை அளித்தான்।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Type: kavaca
FAQs
It highlights dharma even amid conflict: truthfulness and reverence for the spiritually learned (vipra) are portrayed as virtues that invite divine protection, suggesting that righteous conduct itself becomes a shield.
Though the verse speaks of a kavacha, the Shiva Purana’s wider Shaiva frame treats all true protection as ultimately grounded in Saguna Shiva’s grace—often approached through Linga worship, mantra, and disciplined dharma.
The takeaway is protective devotion: recitation of Shiva mantras (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a mental kavacha, supported by truthful speech and dharmic conduct; where traditional, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) is also worn as a Shaiva mark of protection.