Shloka 1

वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तं श्रीमहेशस्य श्रुत्वा वचनमादरात् । वीरभद्रोतिसंतुष्टः प्रणनाम महेश्वरम

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityuktaṃ śrīmaheśasya śrutvā vacanamādarāt | vīrabhadrotisaṃtuṣṭaḥ praṇanāma maheśvarama

Translation

Brahmā said: Having respectfully heard these words of Śrī Maheśa, Vīrabhadra—exceedingly pleased—bowed down in reverence to Maheśvara (Lord Śiva).

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: वक्ता/कर्ता (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तम्: spoken; said
• उक्तम्: कर्म/भाव (that which was said)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• श्री-महेशस्य: of revered Maheśa (Śiva)
• श्री-महेशस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘श्रीमहेश’ = श्रीमान् महेशः (the venerable Maheśa)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

• वचनम्: the words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• वीरभद्र-अति-सन्तुष्टः: Vīrabhadra, greatly pleased
• वीरभद्र-अति-सन्तुष्टः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय) + सन्तुष्ट (कृदन्त; सम्+√तुष् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘अतिसन्तुष्ट’ = अत्यन्तं सन्तुष्टः; समासः: (वीरभद्रः) अतिसन्तुष्टः (contextual)

• प्रणनाम: bowed down
• प्रणनाम: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महेश्वरम्: to Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virabhadra
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal of śaraṇāgati (surrender): even a mighty divine agent like Vīrabhadra attains right action by reverently hearing Śiva’s words and bowing in humility to the Supreme Pati (Maheśvara).

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Maheśvara as the personal Lord who guides and commands. In Linga-worship, the same attitude is central: hearing śāstra and guru, then offering namaskāra and pūjā with reverence to the manifest Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily namaskāra to Śiva after śravaṇa (listening/recitation) of Śiva-stotra or Purāṇa passages—followed by mindful japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” in a mood of humility.