Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

ते चापि युयुधुस्तेन वीरभद्रेण भाषता । विष्णुवत् बलवंतो हि नानायुधधरा गणाः

Transliteration

te cāpi yuyudhustena vīrabhadreṇa bhāṣatā | viṣṇuvat balavaṃto hi nānāyudhadharā gaṇāḥ

Translation

Auf Vīrabhadras Befehl stürzten auch sie sich in den Kampf. Wahrlich, Śivas Gaṇas, die vielerlei Waffen trugen, waren so kraftvoll wie Viṣṇu und kämpften furchtlos.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• युयुधुः: fought
• युयुधुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• तेन: with him/with that one
• तेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वीरभद्रेण: with Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रेण: करण (Instrument/with Vīrabhadra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• भाषता: while speaking
• भाषता: विशेषण (participial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'speaking' qualifying वीरभद्रेण

• विष्णुवत्: like Viṣṇu
• विष्णुवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विष्णु + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial तुल्य-प्रयोग), वत्-प्रत्ययार्थः 'like/as'

• बलवन्तः: powerful
• बलवन्तः: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of गणाः

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• नानायुधधराः: bearing various weapons
• नानायुधधराः: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + आयुध + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आयुधं धरन्ति) with नाना as qualifier; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of गणाः

• गणाः: troops/hosts
• गणाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadra
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Śiva’s will (through Vīrabhadra) empowers the gaṇas to overcome arrogance and ritualistic pride; it teaches that devotion and alignment with Pati (Śiva) is superior to ego-driven sacrifice.

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

Vīrabhadra and the gaṇas represent Saguna Śiva’s active grace and corrective power in the world; Linga-worship centers on surrender to Śiva as the inner Lord, not mere outer ceremony—precisely the lesson of Daksha’s yajña narrative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair ritual with humility: chant the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to subdue ego and dedicate all actions to Śiva.