Shloka 61

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रो रणे भद्रो नैरृत्यां वै रथस्य तु वृषभेन्द्रं समारुह्य रोमजैश् च समावृतः

Transliteration

vīrabhadro raṇe bhadro nairṛtyāṃ vai rathasya tu vṛṣabhendraṃ samāruhya romajaiś ca samāvṛtaḥ

Translation

Auspicious Vīrabhadra, mighty in battle, took his station on the south‑western (Nairṛtya) flank of the chariot; mounting the lordly bull, he stood with bristling hairs, terrible in form—like the Pati who shatters the bonds of hostile paśus.

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra

• रणे: in battle

• भद्रः: auspicious, beneficent

• नैरृत्यां: in the south‑west direction

• वै: indeed

• रथस्य: of the chariot/battle-array

• तु: and/also

• वृषभेन्द्रम्: the lord of bulls (Nandin or a supreme bull-mount)

• समारुह्य: having mounted

• रोमजैः: with hairs/bristles

• च: and

• समावृतः: covered, enveloped

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Nandi (implied as Vṛṣabhendra)

FAQs

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

It presents Vīrabhadra as Shiva’s protective śakti in action—reminding devotees that Linga worship is not only devotion but also refuge under Pati, who safeguards dharma and removes pasha (bondage).

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

Through Vīrabhadra’s terrifying yet ‘bhadra’ (auspicious) presence, it conveys Shiva-tattva as simultaneously fierce toward adharma and compassionate toward pashus—destroying obstacles to liberation while remaining beneficent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The imagery aligns with Pāśupata-bhāva: taking refuge in Pati (Shiva) and cultivating fearless steadiness amid conflict—an inner ‘battle-array’ where bondage is confronted and dissolved through Shiva-centered discipline.