व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तो रोषताम्राक्षो वेदमर्यादपालकः । विरराम महावीरं कालारिस्सकलेश्वरः
brahmovāca | ityukto roṣatāmrākṣo vedamaryādapālakaḥ | virarāma mahāvīraṃ kālārissakaleśvaraḥ
Brahmā said: Thus addressed, the great hero—his eyes reddened with wrath—yet the guardian of the Vedic order, the Lord of all, the foe of Kāla (Death), withdrew and desisted.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Kālāntaka
Sthala Purana: Narrative pivot: after the outbreak of wrath, the Lord ‘desists’—a controlled withdrawal that prevents total annihilation and prepares for restoration and eventual reconciliation.
Significance: Models the Śaiva ideal of īśvara-niyama: even in wrath, the Lord is the upholder of veda-maryādā and cosmic balance; devotees learn restraint and dharma-guided power.
It highlights Shiva’s sovereignty over time and death (Kālārī) together with His commitment to dharma—true lordship is shown not only in power but also in restraint aligned with cosmic order.
The verse points to Saguna Shiva as the personal Lord who governs the universe (sakaleśvara) and protects sacred order; Linga-worship venerates this very Lord as the stable axis of dharma and grace beyond destructive impulse.
Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize Shiva’s mastery over anger and fear of death, and cultivate self-restraint as a form of devotion aligned with Vedic dharma.