Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26
भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः
Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts
गले प्रगृह्य बलिनो गणपाः सिंहविक्रमाः । भर्त्सयंतो भृशं वाग्भिर्निर्जघ्नुर्मूर्ध्नि मुष्टिभिः
gale pragṛhya balino gaṇapāḥ siṃhavikramāḥ | bhartsayaṃto bhṛśaṃ vāgbhirnirjaghnurmūrdhni muṣṭibhiḥ
Ihn an der Kehle packend, schlugen die mächtigen Gaṇas—löwengleich an Tapferkeit—ihn mit harten Worten und trafen dann seinen Kopf mit Fäusten.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva’s cosmic order being safeguarded by his Gaṇas: when adharma, arrogance, or obstruction rises, it is checked decisively. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this reflects Pati’s governance—bondage (pāśa) is confronted so the soul (paśu) can be redirected toward dharma and eventual liberation.
The Gaṇas are extensions of Saguna Śiva’s authority in the manifest world. Devotion to the Liṅga includes reverence for Śiva’s dharma-protecting power—his grace uplifts, and his disciplinary force removes obstacles created by ego and hostility toward sacred order.
The practical takeaway is to cultivate humility and restraint through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined conduct; these purify harsh speech and aggression—the very faults mirrored in the scene—aligning the devotee with Śiva’s dharmic current.