Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas
पंचास्यस्त्वथ पंचास्यं मुष्ट्या मूर्द्धन्यताडयत । भक्तवत्सलनामासौ वज्रादपि कठोरया
paṃcāsyastvatha paṃcāsyaṃ muṣṭyā mūrddhanyatāḍayata | bhaktavatsalanāmāsau vajrādapi kaṭhorayā
随即，五面者（Pañcāsya）以拳击打五面者的头顶——他素以“Bhaktavatsala（怜爱信众者）”著称，然其一击却比金刚雷杵更为坚猛。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The epithet ‘Pañcāsya’ (five-faced) evokes Sadāśiva’s pañcabrahma aspect; the verse dramatizes how the Lord who is Bhaktavatsala can still enact severe correction/destruction against adharmic forces.
Significance: Teaches the dual register of Śiva: tender grace to devotees and vajra-like severity toward adharma—both expressions of cosmic order.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It presents Shiva’s paradoxical nature: supremely compassionate to devotees (Bhaktavatsala) while also irresistibly powerful; his ‘hardness’ removes obstacles and subdues adharma, ultimately protecting the devotee’s path toward liberation.
The verse highlights Saguna Shiva—Shiva with form and action—whose leela includes protection through decisive शक्ति (power). Linga worship reveres the same Lord as the transcendent Pati, who may appear gentle in grace yet formidable against forces opposing dharma.
Contemplate Shiva as Bhaktavatsala while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditating that his protective power ‘strikes down’ inner enemies like pride and anger; this supports steady bhakti and surrender.