Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

अमरानपि दुद्राव द्विरदानिव केसरी । तानभिद्रवतस्तस्य गमनं सुमनोहरम्

Transliteration

amarānapi dudrāva dviradāniva kesarī | tānabhidravatastasya gamanaṃ sumanoharam

Translation

كأسدٍ يهجم على الفيلة، أوقع حتى الآلهة في الفرار؛ وحين اندفع وراءهم، بدا اندفاعه إلى الأمام بالغَ السحر، يأسر الأبصار.

Word by Word

• अमरान्: the immortals (gods)
• अमरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: even/also)

• दुद्राव: ran (swiftly)
• दुद्राव: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• द्विरदान्: elephants
• द्विरदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमार्थक (comparative particle: like/as)

• केसरी: a lion
• केसरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अभिद्रवतः: of (him) running towards/charging at
• अभिद्रवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + द्रु (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; धातुः—द्रु (to run) उपसर्गः—अभि

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गमनम्: the movement/advance
• गमनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सु-मनोहरम्: very charming
• सु-मनोहरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः/उपपद-समासः (सु + मनोहर)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights the limitation of even the devas and points to the Shaiva Siddhanta teaching that supreme sovereignty belongs to Pati; awe before overwhelming divine power becomes a lesson in humility and surrender.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse depicts an irresistible, manifest (saguṇa) divine potency in action; in Linga worship, that same supreme reality is approached in a stable, worshipful form so the devotee can turn fear, pride, and restlessness into devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a mood of śaraṇāgati (surrender), using vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and humility.