Shloka 23

दक्षयज्ञध्वंसः—वीरभद्रप्रेषणं, देवविष्ण्वोः पराजयः, पुनरनुग्रहः

Devanagari script

जघान भगवान् रुद्रः खड्गमुष्ट्यादिसायकैः अथ विष्णुर्महातेजाश् चक्रम् उद्यम्य मूर्छितः

Transliteration

jaghāna bhagavān rudraḥ khaḍgamuṣṭyādisāyakaiḥ atha viṣṇurmahātejāś cakram udyamya mūrchitaḥ

Translation

Darauf schlug der selige Rudra mit Seinen Waffen—Schwert, Faust und anderen Geschossen. Da erhob Viṣṇu, von gewaltigem Glanz, sein Diskus, doch sank in Ohnmacht—und zeigte, dass selbst die Kraft des paśu gehemmt wird, wenn sie vor Pati, dem höchsten Herrn, steht.

Word by Word

• जघान: struck down/assailed

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord

• रुद्रः: Rudra (Shiva)

• खड्ग: sword

• मुष्टि: fist/hand-blow

• आदि: and the like

• सायकैः: with missiles/weapons

• अथ: then/thereupon

• विष्णुः: Vishnu

• महातेजाः: of great radiance/mighty energy

• चक्रम्: discus (Sudarshana)

• उद्यम्य: having lifted/raised

• मूर्छितः: fainted/swooned

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It reinforces Rudra as Pati (the Supreme Lord) before whom even divine power becomes ineffective; Linga worship centers on surrender to this transcendent Lord beyond merely martial or worldly strength.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva appears as Bhagavan Rudra whose sovereignty can still the activity of even Vishnu; this points to Shiva-tattva as the regulating, superior principle that subdues all limited agencies when they confront the Absolute.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Implicitly, it highlights Pashupata orientation: the pashu (individual soul) must abandon egoic reliance on ‘weapons’ (personal power) and take refuge in Pati through devotion, discipline, and Shaiva upasana (including Linga-puja).