Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44
गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः
Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds
आगतं तं समालोक्य शंकरं भक्तवत्सलम् । त्रिशूलहस्तं गर्जंतं जगर्ज स गजासुरः
āgataṃ taṃ samālokya śaṃkaraṃ bhaktavatsalam | triśūlahastaṃ garjaṃtaṃ jagarja sa gajāsuraḥ
பக்தவத்சலனாகிய, திரிசூலம் ஏந்தி கர்ஜித்துக் கொண்டே வந்த சங்கரனைப் பார்த்து, கஜாசுரனும் எதிராகக் கர்ஜித்தான்.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Type: rudram
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva as Bhaktavatsala—His protective grace toward devotees—showing that even when He appears in a fierce, saguna form (trident-bearing and roaring), His inner intent is the safeguarding of dharma and the devotee’s spiritual welfare.
Here Śiva is presented as Saguna—visibly armed with the triśūla and active in līlā. Such narratives strengthen personal devotion (bhakti) that later culminates in steadiness in Linga-worship, where the same Lord is adored as the all-pervading Pati who protects and liberates.
A practical takeaway is bhakti-centered japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing Śiva as Bhaktavatsala, and offering vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of His protective, purifying presence during inner “battles” with fear and ego.