Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

विष्णोर्योगबलात्तस्य देवदेव सुदारुणाः । शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ता असंख्याताश्च जज्ञिरे

Transliteration

viṣṇoryogabalāttasya devadeva sudāruṇāḥ | śaṅkhacakragadāhastā asaṃkhyātāśca jajñire

Translation

O Herr der Götter, durch die yogische Kraft Viṣṇus entstanden aus ihm unzählige, überaus furchterregende göttliche Wesen, die in ihren Händen Muschelhorn, Diskus und Keule trugen.

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• योगबलात्: from/by the power of yoga
• योगबलात्: अपादान (Ablative source/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (yoga's power); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) बल; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्य: of him/that one
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• देवदेव: O god of gods
• देवदेव: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (देवानां देवः); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• सुदारुणाः: very fierce
• सुदारुणाः: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifier) of implied beings

• शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ताः: having conch, discus, and mace in their hands
• शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ताः: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + चक्र + गदा + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (those whose hands have conch, discus, mace); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण of the subject

• असंख्याताः: countless
• असंख्याताः: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण of the subject

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• जज्ञिरे: were born/arose
• जज्ञिरे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya in the Rudra Saṃhitā frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that even great divine powers like Viṣṇu’s yogabala can manifest countless forms, yet the address “Devadeva” implies the higher Shaiva vision: all such powers function within the supreme sovereignty of Pati (Lord Shiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By calling Shiva “Devadeva,” the verse supports Saguna devotion: devotees worship Shiva as the supreme Lord who transcends and governs the powers of other devas; the Liṅga becomes the focused symbol of that highest lordship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate steadiness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna on Shiva as Devadeva, recognizing that yogic powers are secondary to surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Shiva.