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
Daraufhin entstand ein furchterregender schwarzer Dämon, so riesig, dass er den Himmel berührte, und so strahlend wie drei Sonnen. Seine Zähne waren schrecklich, sein Haupthaar loderte wie Feuer; er hatte tausend Arme, schwang vielfältige Waffen und trug eine Girlande aus Menschenköpfen.
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.