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
有辨慧者，以其慧为真力；无慧之人，力量从何而来？纵使骄狂自醉的狮子，也曾被一只小野兔诱使坠入井中。
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.