Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
ते सर्वे चागतास्तत्र षण्मुखाद्याश्च ये पुनः । देवा व्यर्थायुधा जाता आश्चर्यं परमं गताः
te sarve cāgatāstatra ṣaṇmukhādyāśca ye punaḥ | devā vyarthāyudhā jātā āścaryaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ
అప్పుడు వారందరూ అక్కడికి చేరారు—షణ్ముఖుడు మొదలైనవారూ వచ్చారు. దేవతల ఆయుధాలు వ్యర్థమై, వారు పరమ ఆశ్చర్యంలో మునిగిపోయారు.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It highlights that worldly power (even divine weaponry) becomes ineffective before higher divine ordinance; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true mastery comes through Shiva’s grace, not through force or ego.
The motif of ‘weapons becoming futile’ points to the supremacy of Shiva’s śakti and governance (Pati). Linga/Saguna worship trains the devotee to rely on Shiva’s refuge rather than external power, aligning will with dharma.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with humility, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders that inner surrender is stronger than outward aggression.