Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47
शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः
Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox
तदागो ऽसहमानस्य देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । पदांगुष्ठपरिस्पन्दान्ममज्ज मृदितो भुवि
tadāgo 'sahamānasya devadevasya śūlinaḥ | padāṃguṣṭhaparispandānmamajja mṛdito bhuvi
เมื่อทนต่อความล่วงเกินนั้นมิได้ เทวเทพผู้ทรงตรีศูลคือพระศิวะ เพียงขยับนิ้วหัวแม่เท้าเล็กน้อย ผู้กระทำผิดก็ถูกบดขยี้และจมลงสู่แผ่นดิน
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Śiva’s mere toe-movement crushing the offender is a classic purāṇic teaching-image: the Lord’s effortless sovereignty (aiśvarya) and the futility of asuric pride before Kailāsa’s Lord.
Significance: Meditation on Śiva’s pāda (feet) symbolizes taking refuge; the episode is recited to cultivate humility and surrender, the doorway to anugraha.
FAQs
It teaches that aparādha (spiritual offense) hardens the bonds (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu), and that Śiva as Pati corrects and restrains adharma effortlessly—His power is such that even a mere toe-movement is decisive.
It emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s active lordship: the same compassionate Lord worshipped in the Liṅga also protects dharma by punishing arrogance and offense, reminding devotees to approach Liṅga-worship with reverence, purity, and humility.
The takeaway is aparādha-bhaya and śaraṇāgati: begin worship with repentance and purification (bhasma/Tripuṇḍra, clean conduct), then steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate humility and devotion.