Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path
व्यास उवाच । भो ब्रह्मन्भगवन्पूर्वं श्रुतं मे ब्रह्मपुत्रक । जलंधरं महादैत्यमवधीच्छंकरः प्रभुः
vyāsa uvāca | bho brahmanbhagavanpūrvaṃ śrutaṃ me brahmaputraka | jalaṃdharaṃ mahādaityamavadhīcchaṃkaraḥ prabhuḥ
毗耶娑说道：“噢，受敬的婆罗门，噢，具福者——梵天之子啊——我先前听闻，至主商羯罗（湿婆），至高的主宰，曾诛灭大阿修罗阇兰达罗。”
Vyāsa
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: The verse opens the Jalandhara cycle: Śiva’s slaying of Jalandhara is framed as divine intervention to restore cosmic order when demonic power becomes oppressive.
Significance: Remembering Śiva as the sovereign who destroys adharma strengthens śaraṇāgati (refuge) and confidence in His protective grace; often linked in practice to visiting Śiva temples for protection from obstacles.
FAQs
It frames Śiva as Prabhu—the supreme protector who removes adharma. The slaying of Jalandhara signals the restoration of dharma and the soul’s movement toward grace when egoic, demonic power is dissolved.
By naming Śiva as Śaṅkara and Prabhu, the verse points to Saguna Śiva—the Lord accessible to devotion and worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) who actively intervenes to protect cosmic order.
A practical takeaway is to remember Śiva as “Śaṅkaraḥ Prabhuḥ” while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating surrender and protection-seeking bhakti during inner battles with pride and aggression.