Shloka 18

दक्षयज्ञध्वंसः—वीरभद्रप्रेषणं, देवविष्ण्वोः पराजयः, पुनरनुग्रहः

Devanagari script

घर्षयामास भगवान् वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् चिछेद च शिरस्तस्य शक्रस्य भगवान्प्रभोः

Transliteration

gharṣayāmāsa bhagavān vīrabhadraḥ pratāpavān cicheda ca śirastasya śakrasya bhagavānprabhoḥ

Translation

The glorious and mighty Vīrabhadra, the Lord’s commanding power, crushed him down—and he severed the head of Śakra (Indra), the lord of the gods.

Word by Word

• घर्षयामास: crushed/ground down

• भगवान्: the revered lord (divine one)

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra

• प्रतापवान्: radiant with might/valorous

• चिछेद: cut off/severed

• च: and

• शिरः: head

• तस्य: of him

• शक्रस्य: of Śakra (Indra)

• भगवान्: the revered one

• प्रभोः: of the Lord/master (as the supreme commander/agent of Rudra)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Indra (Shakra)
• Shiva (as Prabhu, implied)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It reinforces Shiva’s status as Pati (the Supreme Lord) before whom even Indra’s authority is secondary; true Linga-worship is grounded in humility and surrender, not ritual pride.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is shown as sovereign and corrective: through Vīrabhadra (Shiva’s delegated śakti), Shiva restrains deva-ahamkāra and restores dharma, revealing the Lord’s supremacy over all cosmic offices.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied Pāśupata emphasis is on ego-shedding (ahamkāra-kṣaya) and surrender to Pati; outer yajña without inner devotion becomes a bondage (pāśa) rather than a liberating act.