Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः
Bāṇāsura’s Wrathful Command and the Onset of Battle at the Inner Palace
छद्मनां नागपाशैस्तं बबंध स महाबलः । बलिपुत्रो महावीरश्शिवभक्तश्शरासुरः
chadmanāṃ nāgapāśaistaṃ babaṃdha sa mahābalaḥ | baliputro mahāvīraśśivabhaktaśśarāsuraḥ
Rồi vị dũng tướng đầy uy lực Śarāsura—con của Bali, bậc đại anh hùng và là tín đồ của Śiva—dùng mưu kế trói chàng bằng những thòng lọng rắn (Nāgapāśa).
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Cosmic Event: Nāga-pāśa (serpent-bond) as emblem of binding power (pāśa) and constriction.
FAQs
It contrasts outward strength and tactical skill with inner purity: even a proclaimed Śiva-bhakta can act under delusion when desire for conquest overrides dharma—reminding the seeker that true devotion refines intention, not merely identity.
As a Śiva-bhakta in a battle episode, Śarāsura represents devotion directed to Saguna Śiva, yet the verse implies that worship must mature into sattvic conduct; Linga-worship is meant to dissolve ego and bondage, not empower छल (deception).
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of truthfulness (satya) and restraint (saṃyama), so that devotion becomes purification of motives rather than a badge used alongside harmful strategy.