Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins
विभीषिकाभिर्बह्वीभिः कोटरीभिः पदेपदे । निर्ल्लज्जाभिश्च नारीभिः प्रबलाभिरदूरतः
vibhīṣikābhirbahvībhiḥ koṭarībhiḥ padepade | nirllajjābhiśca nārībhiḥ prabalābhiradūrataḥ
每走一步，便有无数可怖的幻影与如洞窟般的深陷；不远处又现出强悍而无耻的女魔之形——四周皆是恐怖升起的征兆。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It portrays fearsome portents that symbolize the instability of saṃsāra and the mind’s projections; Shaiva Siddhanta points the devotee to take refuge in Pati (Shiva), who alone is steady when the world appears terrifying.
In the Yuddha narrative, such omens intensify the need for surrender to Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga as the accessible, protective form through which Shiva grants fearlessness (abhaya) and steadies the devotee.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra bhasma-dhāraṇa to calm fear and anchor awareness in Shiva during distressing conditions.