Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
किं बाल इतो यायाद्दूरं प्राणपरीप्सया । इत्युक्तोद्दिश्य च हरी वीरभद्रमुवाच सः
kiṃ bāla ito yāyāddūraṃ prāṇaparīpsayā | ityuktoddiśya ca harī vīrabhadramuvāca saḥ
„Warum, Kind, willst du von hier weit weggehen, um dein Leben zu retten?“ Nachdem er so gesprochen hatte, wandte sich Hari an Vīrabhadra.
Hari (Lord Vishnu)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
The verse highlights fearlessness and dharmic clarity: mere self-preservation is not the highest aim when one stands in the presence of divine will. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, true refuge is in Pati (Shiva), and fear dissolves when one aligns with dharma and devotion rather than panic.
Though the Linga is not named here, the narrative context points to Saguna Shiva’s governance through his gaṇas such as Vīrabhadra. It reinforces that divine order (Shiva’s śāsana) is to be honored, and that devotion is shown not only through ritual but through steadfastness and reverence toward Shiva’s manifested agency.
The practical takeaway is cultivating fearlessness through japa and surrender—especially Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—and steadying the mind with Shaiva remembrance. As supporting Shaiva practice, one may adopt Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to inward detachment from fear and clinging.