Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14
दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice
and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षस्य च दुरात्मनः । वीरभद्रो महातेजा मेघसंभीरनिस्स्वनः
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā dakṣasya ca durātmanaḥ | vīrabhadro mahātejā meghasaṃbhīranissvanaḥ
Als er jene Worte des bösherzigen Dakṣa vernahm, ließ Vīrabhadra—von gewaltigem Glanz—ein tiefes, donnerndes Brüllen erschallen, wie aus dichtem Gewölk der Donner.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account. The verse intensifies the Dakṣa-yajña crisis: Vīrabhadra’s thunderous roar signals impending destruction of adharmic ritual order.
Significance: Invokes protective awe: Śiva’s fierce grace dismantles sacrilege and restores dharma; devotees seek courage and removal of hostile forces.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Omen-like sonic eruption: ‘megha-saṃbhīra nissvana’ (deep cloud-thunder roar) functions as a cosmic signal of saṃhāra about to manifest within the ritual cosmos.
FAQs
It shows how adharma rooted in ego (Dakṣa’s contempt) provokes a cosmic corrective force—Vīrabhadra—affirming that disrespect toward Śiva (Pati) tightens bondage (pāśa), while humility restores dharma.
Vīrabhadra is a Saguna manifestation aligned with Śiva’s will, illustrating that the compassionate Lord also upholds dharma through powerful forms; reverence to the Liṅga symbolizes honoring that supreme authority beyond personal pride.
A practical takeaway is to counter ego with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sincere śiva-bhakti; on observances like Mahāśivarātri, maintain purity of speech and humility, supported by vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa if one follows those vows.