Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्
Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas
त्रिभिश्च धर्षितो बाणैस्तेन शार्ङ्गं धनुर्हरेः । वीरभद्रेण तत्तात त्रिधाभूत्तत्क्षणान्मुने
tribhiśca dharṣito bāṇaistena śārṅgaṃ dhanurhareḥ | vīrabhadreṇa tattāta tridhābhūttatkṣaṇānmune
إذ ضُرِبَ وقُهِرَ بثلاثة سهامه، فإن قوس هري «شارنغا» قد تكسّر في تلك اللحظة عينها، يا حبيب، إلى ثلاث قطع على يد فيرابهادرا، أيها الحكيم.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Symbolic ‘weapon-breaking’ as cosmic saṃhāra of prideful power during yajña-vidhvaṃsa
FAQs
It depicts the collapse of worldly power and pride when it opposes Dharma: even Hari’s famed weapon is rendered ineffective before Shiva’s śakti embodied as Vīrabhadra, teaching surrender to the Supreme Pati rather than reliance on mere might.
Vīrabhadra is a Saguna manifestation of Shiva’s will; the verse reinforces that all divine functions ultimately rest in Shiva, supporting Linga-worship as devotion to the transcendent Pati who also appears in compassionate, tangible forms.
A practical takeaway is humility and śaraṇāgati (refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance that all instruments of power are transient before Shiva.