Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59
अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins
किं करोमि रमानाथ भक्ताधीनस्सदा हरे । पश्यतो मे कथं वीर स्याद्बाणभुजकृंतनम्
kiṃ karomi ramānātha bhaktādhīnassadā hare | paśyato me kathaṃ vīra syādbāṇabhujakṛṃtanam
โอ้พระรามานาถะ โอ้พระหริ ผู้ทรงอยู่ใต้อำนาจแห่งภักตะเสมอ ข้าเฝ้ามองอยู่แล้ว เหตุใดการตัดแขนของพาณะจึงจะเกิดขึ้นได้ โอ้วีรบุรุษ?
Lord Shiva (addressing Vishnu/Hari during the Bāṇāsura episode)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
FAQs
The verse highlights the dharmic tension between justice and compassion: even in war, the Lord acknowledges the binding force of bhakti (devotion). It teaches that divine action is guided not merely by power but by grace, restraint, and the moral obligation toward those who have taken refuge.
It reflects Saguna Shiva—Shiva as a personal Lord who responds to relationships, vows, and devotion. Linga-worship similarly approaches Shiva as accessible and compassionate, where surrender (śaraṇāgati) and bhakti shape the devotee’s experience of protection and upliftment.
A practical takeaway is bhakti-based japa and surrender: repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the intent of aligning one’s power with compassion and dharma; optionally support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of restraint, devotion, and refuge in Shiva.