बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः
Bāṇāsura’s Wrathful Command and the Onset of Battle at the Inner Palace
कुंभांड उवाच । नैतत्कर्तुं समुचितं कर्म देव विचार्यताम् । अस्मिन्हते हतो ह्यात्मा भवेदिति मतिर्मम
kuṃbhāṃḍa uvāca | naitatkartuṃ samucitaṃ karma deva vicāryatām | asminhate hato hyātmā bhavediti matirmama
Kumbhāṇḍa thưa rằng: “Ôi Deva, việc này không hợp đạo—xin Ngài hãy suy xét. Theo chỗ hiểu của tôi, nếu người này bị giết, thì tự ngã (ātman) cũng như bị giết vậy.”
Kumbhāṇḍa
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
The verse highlights dharma-vicāra (ethical discernment): even amid conflict, one must reflect before acting, recognizing the gravity of harming embodied beings and the karmic-spiritual weight such actions carry.
By urging reflection and restraint, the verse aligns with Saguna Shiva as the upholder of dharma and compassion; Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly linked with inner purification, not mere outward victory.
The practical takeaway is to pause for vicāra (self-inquiry) and mantra-smaraṇa before decisive action—such as silently recalling “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind and act in accordance with dharma.