Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

अथ सुरा अपि ते विगतव्यथाः कथितभद्रसुभद्रपराक्रमाः । सपदि खेन सुखेन यथासुखं ययुरनेकमुखाः मघवन्मुखाः

Transliteration

atha surā api te vigatavyathāḥ kathitabhadrasubhadraparākramāḥ | sapadi khena sukhena yathāsukhaṃ yayuranekamukhāḥ maghavanmukhāḥ

Translation

Dann waren auch jene Devas von ihrem Kummer befreit; und nachdem sie von der Tapferkeit und der segensreichen Macht Bhadras und Subhadras gehört hatten, brachen sie sogleich durch den Himmel auf — leicht und freudig. Ein jeder kehrte in seine gewünschte Wohnstatt zurück, mit Maghavan (Indra) an der Spitze.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• surāḥ: the gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि (also/even)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• vigata-vyathāḥ: free from distress
• vigata-vyathāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vigata (कृदन्त) + vyathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘विगताः व्यथाः येषाम्’ (free from pain)

• kathita-bhadra-subhadra-parākramāḥ: whose (story of) valor of Bhadra and Subhadra was told
• kathita-bhadra-subhadra-parākramāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kathita (कृदन्त) + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक) + subhadra (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘भद्र-सुभद्रयोः पराक्रमः कथितः येषाम्’ (whose valor of Bhadra and Subhadra was spoken of)

• sapadi: at once
• sapadi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sapadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (immediately)

• kṣaṇena: in a moment
• kṣaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; (IAST ‘khena’ interpreted as ‘kṣaṇena’)

• sukhena: with ease
• sukhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• yathā-sukham: as they pleased
• yathā-sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘यथासुखम्’ = as one pleases/comfortably

• yayuḥ: went
• yayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• aneka-mukhāḥ: many-faced / in many directions
• aneka-mukhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘अनेकानि मुखानि येषाम्/अनेकमुखाः’

• maghavan-mukhāḥ: with Maghavan (Indra) as leader
• maghavan-mukhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maghavan (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मघवतः मुखाः’ (with Indra at the head)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Shows the fruit of grace: distress removed and beings return to their rightful stations; pilgrims interpret safe return and restored order as Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Maghavan)
• Devas (Suras)
• Bhadra
• Subhadra

FAQs

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

It highlights the cessation of suffering (vyathā) when divine auspiciousness and righteous power are recognized; in Shaiva thought, distress is relieved when beings realign with dharma under the higher sovereignty of Pati (the Lord).

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

Though the verse is narrative, it echoes a key Shaiva theme: when the Devas acknowledge auspicious divine agency behind events, harmony is restored—mirroring how devotion to Saguna Shiva (often through the Linga) brings peace and order to the mind and world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate śānti (inner ease) through Shiva-centered remembrance—such as japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—so that agitation (vyathā) subsides and one moves through life “sukhena” (with ease).