Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas
तारको वीरभद्रेण स त्रिशूलाहतो भृशम् । पपात सहसा भूमौ क्षणं मूर्छापरिप्लुतः
tārako vīrabhadreṇa sa triśūlāhato bhṛśam | papāta sahasā bhūmau kṣaṇaṃ mūrchāpariplutaḥ
Von Vīrabhadra mit dem Dreizack heftig getroffen, stürzte Tāraka plötzlich zu Boden, einen Augenblick von Ohnmacht und Verblendung überflutet.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
The verse depicts the collapse of adharmic power when confronted by Shiva’s divine agency. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the fall into “mūrchā” (swoon/delusion) points to moha and tamas as binding forces that are dispelled when the Lord’s śakti acts—signifying the inevitable defeat of egoic arrogance before Pati (the Lord).
Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Shiva’s active, protective power—Shiva’s grace operating within form to restore cosmic order. Linga-worship honors the same Lord as both transcendent (nirguṇa) and manifest (saguṇa); this battle image helps devotees contemplate Shiva as the guardian who removes inner and outer obstacles.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva’s triśūla as the cutting of the three impurities/bonds—ego, karmic momentum, and delusion—and to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking clarity when “mūrchā” (mental dullness) arises.