Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः
Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds
सुरान्नरांश्च प्रमथान्सर्वाञ्चिक्लेश दुर्मतिः । धर्मान्वितान्विशेषेण पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्
surānnarāṃśca pramathānsarvāñcikleśa durmatiḥ | dharmānvitānviśeṣeṇa pūrvavairamanusmaran
那心怀恶念者折磨诸天、人类与一切普罗摩他众，尤以安住于法者为甚；他一边追忆旧怨，一边加以迫害。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a narrative marker of adharma-driven hostility that obstructs dharma and devotion, a typical prelude to Śiva’s restoring intervention.
Significance: General: warns that smaraṇa of pūrvavaira (brooding on enmity) intensifies pāśa (bondage) and leads to duḥkha; encourages śaraṇāgati to Śiva for release.
FAQs
It highlights how “pūrvavaira” (clinging to past hostility) hardens the mind into durmati and produces suffering for oneself and others; Shaiva teaching emphasizes releasing hatred and aligning with dharma to move toward Shiva’s grace and inner purification.
By contrasting the dharmic hosts (including Shiva’s Pramathas) with the tormentor’s hatred, the verse implicitly points to Saguna Shiva as the protector of dharma; Linga-worship is a discipline to dissolve egoic hostility and stabilize the mind in Shiva-bhakti rather than vengeance.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to neutralize resentment, along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as reminders to live dharmically and not be driven by old enmities.