Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 3
Vīrabhadra Destroys Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
Dakṣa-yajña-vināśa
ततोऽतिकायस्तनुवा स्पृशन्दिवं सहस्रबाहुर्घनरुक् त्रिसूर्यदृक् । करालदंष्ट्रो ज्वलदग्निमूर्धज: कपालमाली विविधोद्यतायुध: ॥ ३ ॥
tato ’tikāyas tanuvā spṛśan divaṁ sahasra-bāhur ghana-ruk tri-sūrya-dṛk karāla-daṁṣṭro jvalad-agni-mūrdhajaḥ kapāla-mālī vividhodyatāyudhaḥ
A fearful black demon as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined was thereby created, his teeth very fearful and the hairs on his head like burning fire. He had thousands of arms, equipped with various weapons, and he was garlanded with the heads of men.
FAQs
Vīrabhadra is the fearsome warrior-manifestation associated with Lord Śiva, described here as a colossal, many-armed being who appears to execute Śiva’s will in the aftermath of Dakṣa’s offense.
The imagery emphasizes the intensity of divine wrath against sacrilege and offense—especially in the context of Dakṣa’s insult to Lord Śiva—showing the unstoppable power that arises to check arrogance and impiety.
It warns against pride, disrespect, and offending saintly persons; it also teaches that actions have consequences, and that dharma ultimately prevails even when challenged by ego or social power.