Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52
गणेश-षण्मुखयोः विवाहविचारः / Deliberation on the Marriages of Gaṇeśa and Ṣaṇmukha
बुद्धिर्यस्य बलं तस्य निर्बुद्धेस्तु कुतो बलम् । कूपे सिंहो मदोन्मत्तश्शशकेन निपातितः
buddhiryasya balaṃ tasya nirbuddhestu kuto balam | kūpe siṃho madonmattaśśaśakena nipātitaḥ
Sa may buddhi, ang buddhi ring iyon ang tunay na lakas; ngunit sa walang pag-unawa, saan manggagaling ang lakas? Maging ang leon na lasing sa pagmamataas ay naibagsak sa balon ng isang munting kuneho.
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It teaches that real power is viveka (right discernment). Pride without wisdom becomes a pasha (bond), and even the strong fall when ego blinds the intellect—whereas clear buddhi supports dharma and leads toward Shiva-oriented liberation.
Linga-worship trains the mind toward humility, self-control, and discrimination between the eternal Lord (Pati, Shiva) and the limited self (paśu). This verse reinforces that devotion must be guided by buddhi—otherwise pride turns practice into mere display.
Cultivate daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with self-examination to remove pride; support it with sattvic discipline and, where traditional, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of humility and discernment.