Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रे प्रचलिते दक्षनाशाय सत्वरम् । कल्पवृक्षसमुत्सृष्टा पुष्पवृष्टिरभूत्तदा

Transliteration

vīrabhadre pracalite dakṣanāśāya satvaram | kalpavṛkṣasamutsṛṣṭā puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūttadā

Translation

When Vīrabhadra set forth swiftly to bring about Dakṣa’s destruction, then a shower of flowers arose—sent forth as if from the wish-fulfilling celestial tree, the Kalpavṛkṣa.

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रे: in/when Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः वीरः च असौ भद्रः (कर्मधारय)

• प्रचलिते: having advanced / when (he) set forth
• प्रचलिते: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चल् (धातु) → प्रचलित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), सप्तमी-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध) ‘having set forth/when (he) moved’

• दक्षनाशाय: for the destruction of Dakṣa
• दक्षनाशाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष-नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘दक्षस्य नाशः’

• सत्वरम्: quickly, hastily
• सत्वरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)

• कल्पवृक्षसमुत्सृष्टा: sent forth from the wish-fulfilling tree
• कल्पवृक्षसमुत्सृष्टा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पवृक्ष-समुत्सृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘समुत्सृष्ट’; समासः कल्पवृक्षात् समुत्सृष्टा (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष)

• पुष्पवृष्टिः: a shower of flowers
• पुष्पवृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प-वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘पुष्पाणां वृष्टिः’

• अभूत्: was / occurred
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Flower-shower as divine sanction/omen when Vīrabhadra moves to destroy Dakṣa’s yajña—heaven itself ‘approves’ the restoration of dharma; not a Jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Interpreted as assurance that Śiva’s fierce action is ultimately purificatory and dharma-restoring; inspires trust in anugraha hidden within saṃhāra.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadra
• Dakṣa

FAQs

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

The flower-shower functions as a divine omen: when the Lord’s will (through Vīrabhadra) moves to restore dharma, the cosmos itself responds with auspicious signs, affirming Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who subdues ego and sacrificial pride.

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

Vīrabhadra is an expression of Saguna Śiva’s active grace and corrective power. The episode teaches devotees that ritual (yajña) without devotion to Śiva’s supreme principle is incomplete—Linga-worship symbolizes recognizing Śiva as the inner Lord of all rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies reverent bhakti during divine remembrance: offer flowers (puṣpāñjali) to Śiva-liṅga while chanting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humility so that worship is not driven by pride like Dakṣa’s.