Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading
Cause and Background
पराजितास्सुरास्तेन रमेशं शरणं ययुः । सवासवास्स्ववृत्तांतमाचख्युः स्वार्थसाधकाः
parājitāssurāstena rameśaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ | savāsavāssvavṛttāṃtamācakhyuḥ svārthasādhakāḥ
అతనిచేత పరాజితులైన అసురులు రమేశుని శరణు చేరిరి. వసువులు, ఆదిత్యులతో కూడి జరిగిన సమస్త వృత్తాంతమును వివరించిరి—తమ స్వార్థసిద్ధి కోరుతూ।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights that when driven by svārtha (self-serving motives), even a truthful report and an act of seeking refuge remain worldly; Shaiva Siddhanta contrasts this with pure śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Pati (Shiva) that loosens pāśa (bondage).
The verse shows crisis-driven refuge-seeking; in Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee is encouraged to approach Shiva not merely for tactical gain but with devotion and inner transformation—turning refuge into bhakti rather than expediency.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with humility, supported by simple Shaiva observances like applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady breath-awareness during japa.