Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

वायुना च हतो भृंगी स्वास्त्रेण परमोजसा । भृंगिणा च हतो वायुस्त्रिशूलेन प्रतापिना

Transliteration

vāyunā ca hato bhṛṃgī svāstreṇa paramojasā | bhṛṃgiṇā ca hato vāyustriśūlena pratāpinā

Translation

With his own weapon, charged with supreme power, Vāyu struck down Bhṛṅgī; and in return, the valiant Bhṛṅgī struck down Vāyu with a blazing trident.

Word by Word

• वायुना: by Vāyu
• वायुना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• हतः: was slain
• हतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भृङ्गी: Bhṛṅgī
• भृङ्गी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• स्वास्त्रेण: with his own weapon
• स्वास्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक: स्व + अस्त्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• परमोजसा: with supreme vigor
• परमोजसा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमोजस् (प्रातिपदिक: परम + ओजस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; विशेषणम् (to वायुना)

• भृङ्गिणा: by Bhṛṅgī
• भृङ्गिणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• हतः: was slain
• हतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वायुः: Vāyu
• वायुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रिशूलेन: with the trident
• त्रिशूलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक: त्रि + शूल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• प्रतापिना: mighty, powerful
• प्रतापिना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; विशेषणम् (to त्रिशूलेन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu
• Bhṛṅgī

FAQs

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

It portrays the limited power of even great cosmic forces when they oppose Shiva’s devotees; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true strength is alignment with Pati (Shiva), not mere elemental might.

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

The Triśūla functions as a Saguna emblem of Shiva’s sovereign energy—reminding worshippers that the Lord’s manifest forms and symbols protect dharma and subdue opposing forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s Triśūla as the power that cuts the three bonds (āṇava, karma, māyā), while chanting the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for inner steadiness amid conflict.