Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
निमेषमात्रात्सहसा महौजास्स वीरभद्रो द्विषतां निहंता । त्रिशूलमुद्यम्य तडित्प्रकाशं जाज्वल्यमानं प्रभया विरेजे
nimeṣamātrātsahasā mahaujāssa vīrabhadro dviṣatāṃ nihaṃtā | triśūlamudyamya taḍitprakāśaṃ jājvalyamānaṃ prabhayā vireje
وفي مقدار رمشة عين، نهض فيرابهادرا ذو البأس والضياء—قاتل الأعداء—فجأة، ورفع رمحه الثلاثي المتلألئ كالبَرق، المتّقد توهّجًا، فتألّق ببهاءٍ قاهر.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse portrays the instantaneous descent of Shiva’s protective power through Vīrabhadra: divine action is swift and decisive when dharma is threatened, and the Lord’s shakti removes hostile, ego-driven forces that obstruct righteousness and devotion.
Vīrabhadra is a Saguna expression of Shiva’s will—an embodied, worship-worthy form through which the formless Lord safeguards devotees and restores cosmic order; the blazing trident symbolizes Shiva’s active grace that cuts bondage and re-establishes dharma.
Meditate on Shiva as the swift protector by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and visualizing the trident’s radiance cutting inner hostility (anger, envy, pride); perform Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Shiva’s purifying, protective power.