Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53
देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
वक्षो विदारयिष्यामि त्रिशूलेन हरे तव । कस्तवास्ति समायातो रक्षकोद्य ममांतिकम्
vakṣo vidārayiṣyāmi triśūlena hare tava | kastavāsti samāyāto rakṣakodya mamāṃtikam
„O Hari, ich werde deine Brust mit meinem Dreizack aufreißen. Wer von den Deinen ist heute als Beschützer gekommen und steht mir nahe?“
Vīrabhadra (Shiva’s fierce emanation at Daksha’s sacrifice)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: Vīrabhadra’s eruption at Dakṣa’s yajña dramatizes Śiva’s sovereignty over the devas; the trident threat to Hari signals that even preservative power is subordinate to Rudra’s cosmic authority.
Significance: Teaches that refuge (rakṣa) ultimately lies in Śiva; sectarian conflict is narratively used to establish Pati’s supremacy.
Type: rudram
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse dramatizes the collapse of prideful ritualism (yajña performed with ego) before the higher authority of Pati (Shiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it warns that without humility and devotion, even divine power and ritual merit cannot protect one from the consequences of adharma.
Vīrabhadra’s trident represents Saguna Shiva’s active grace and corrective power in the world. The episode reinforces that Shiva is not merely an abstract Nirguna principle—he also manifests with form to uphold dharma, protect devotees, and dismantle arrogance that obstructs right worship, including reverence to the Linga.
The practical takeaway is to approach worship with humility and Shaiva devotion—regular japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and sincere Linga-pūjā, supported by inner renunciation of ego, rather than relying only on external ritual status.