Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading
Cause and Background
गत्वा त्रिविष्टपं दैत्यो नन्दनाधिष्ठितोऽभवत् । सर्व सैन्यं समावृत्य कुर्वाणः सिंहवद्रवम्
gatvā triviṣṭapaṃ daityo nandanādhiṣṭhito'bhavat | sarva sainyaṃ samāvṛtya kurvāṇaḥ siṃhavadravam
那达伊提亚来到特里维什塔帕（诸神之天），便据守于难陀那（因陀罗的天园）。他合围全军，发出如狮子般的咆哮——骇人而充满战意。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse depicts adharma’s aggressive surge—symbolized by the Daitya’s lion-like roar in heaven—showing how arrogance can temporarily overtake even exalted realms; Shaiva understanding emphasizes that such power is unstable and is ultimately corrected by the Lord’s order (Śiva as Pati) and the restoration of dharma.
Though the verse is martial in tone, it supports Saguna Śiva devotion by highlighting that cosmic governance is not merely abstract: the Lord’s protective, world-ordering grace is invoked through worship (including the Liṅga), especially when adharma ‘surrounds’ and pressures the devotees or the devas.
A practical takeaway is to counter fear and intimidation with steadiness in japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to anchor the mind through simple Śaiva observances like applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining inward courage (dhairya) during adversity.