Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
शङ्खचूडकृततपः—ब्रह्मवरकवचप्राप्तिः / Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Austerity—Brahmā’s Boon and the Bestowal of the Kavaca
शंखचूडोऽहमेवास्मि देवविद्रावकारकः । मां न जानासि किं भद्रे न श्रुतोऽहं कदाचन
śaṃkhacūḍo'hamevāsmi devavidrāvakārakaḥ | māṃ na jānāsi kiṃ bhadre na śruto'haṃ kadācana
میں ہی شنکھچوڑ ہوں، جو دیوتاؤں کو بھگا دیتا ہے۔ اے بھدرے، کیا تم مجھے نہیں پہچانتی؟ کیا تم نے کبھی میرا نام بھی نہیں سنا؟
Śaṅkhacūḍa (the asura/daitya antagonist in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse highlights asuric ahaṅkāra (pride) and the delusion of power: driving away the devas is presented as a boast, contrasting with the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal where true greatness is surrender to Pati (Śiva) and alignment with dharma.
In Yuddhakhaṇḍa episodes, worldly dominance is shown as unstable; devotion to Saguna Śiva through liṅga-worship is portrayed elsewhere in the Purāṇa as the stabilizing refuge that subdues ego and protects dharma beyond mere celestial or demonic power.
A practical takeaway is to counter pride with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, cultivating humility and devotion to Śiva.