Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict
अहं च मोहयिष्यामि हन्यतां च त्वया विभो । छलं विना न वध्योऽयं तामसोयं दुरासदः
ahaṃ ca mohayiṣyāmi hanyatāṃ ca tvayā vibho | chalaṃ vinā na vadhyo'yaṃ tāmasoyaṃ durāsadaḥ
“我亦将使他迷惑；然后，噢大能者，由你诛杀他。若不施计，此人不可杀——其性属昏暗之怠惰（tamas），极难降伏。”
Lord Vishnu (inferred, advising a divine ally in the Kumārakhaṇḍa battle narrative)
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights that tamas (spiritual darkness) is not conquered by mere force; delusion (moha) must be dispelled or redirected through divine intelligence, aligning action with dharma so the obstructive power can be overcome.
In Shaiva thought, Saguna Shiva’s grace works through right means (upaya) and right discernment; worship steadies the mind so tamasic forces—inner or outer—become ‘killable’ through clarity rather than brute strength.
A practical takeaway is to counter moha with japa and steadying disciplines—especially Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—so tamas is weakened and right action becomes possible.