Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy
and Praise of Śiva
मधुकैटभयोर्दैत्यवरयोः प्रलयार्णवे । शिरश्छेदं चकारासौ कस्माच्चक्री महेश्वर
madhukaiṭabhayordaityavarayoḥ pralayārṇave | śiraśchedaṃ cakārāsau kasmāccakrī maheśvara
在劫灭之海中，摩诃提婆（Mahādeva）为何化为执轮者，以神轮斩落两大魔首——摩度（Madhu）与凯塔婆（Kaiṭabha）的头颅？噢，大自在天（Maheśvara）！
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: mahapralaya
FAQs
The verse points to Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) whose power stands behind cosmic protection and dissolution; even the defeat of demonic forces in pralaya symbolizes the cutting of egoic ignorance so the bound soul (paśu) may turn toward liberation.
By asking how Mahādeva manifests as the discus-bearer, the text highlights Saguna Śiva—who assumes forms and powers for cosmic order—encouraging devotees to worship the Liṅga as the accessible emblem of that same supreme, formless-and-formed reality.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady remembrance of Śiva as the inner remover of ignorance, supported by simple Śaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to focus.