Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
असुरोऽपि निशुंभाख्यो महावीरोऽतिवीर्यवान् । जघान कार्तिकेयं तं गर्जंतं स्वेषुणा रणे
asuro'pi niśuṃbhākhyo mahāvīro'tivīryavān | jaghāna kārtikeyaṃ taṃ garjaṃtaṃ sveṣuṇā raṇe
其后，名为尼舒姆婆的阿修罗——大勇士、力大无比——在交战之际，以己箭射中正于战场咆哮的迦尔蒂凯耶。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
It portrays the testing of even divine commanders like Kartikeya within cosmic conflict, reminding devotees (in a Shaiva Siddhanta lens) that true victory is ultimately by the grace of Pati (Shiva), not merely by individual valor.
Kartikeya is part of Shiva’s saguna order (parivāra) that protects dharma; the battle scene underscores why devotees take refuge in Shiva-Linga worship—seeking the Lord’s sustaining power behind all divine agencies.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (refuge) through daily japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, where customary, wear Rudrākṣa and apply Tripuṇḍra as reminders that strength is steadied by Shiva’s grace.