Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41
भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः
Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts
विष्णुना सहितान्देवान्मृगेन्द्रः क्रोष्टुकानिव । दृष्ट्वा जहास भूतेन्द्रो मृगेन्द्र इव विव्यथः
viṣṇunā sahitāndevānmṛgendraḥ kroṣṭukāniva | dṛṣṭvā jahāsa bhūtendro mṛgendra iva vivyathaḥ
Als der Herr der Wesen (Śiva) die Götter mit Viṣṇu erblickte—wie ein Löwe ein Rudel Schakale—lachte er; doch der Gegner, der „Herr der Tiere“, erbebte, wie ein Löwe vor einem noch größeren Löwen erzittert.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
The verse portrays Śiva as Bhūtendra (Pati), whose mere presence makes even powerful hosts lose arrogance; spiritually, it teaches that refuge in Śiva dissolves fear and reveals the higher sovereignty of consciousness over all limited powers.
The lion-and-jackals imagery supports Saguna Śiva devotion: the devotee approaches the Liṅga as the manifest Lord who protects and subdues inner and outer threats, while also implying that all gods and powers are upheld by Śiva’s supreme reality.
A practical takeaway is fearless japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while visualizing Śiva as Bhūtendra; optionally, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and hold Rudrākṣa as reminders of surrender and inner steadiness.