Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

वीरश्रिया वृतस्तत्र ततो नन्दनसंभवा । पुष्पवृष्टिरभूद्दिव्या वीरभद्रे गणान्विते

Transliteration

vīraśriyā vṛtastatra tato nandanasaṃbhavā | puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūddivyā vīrabhadre gaṇānvite

Translation

There, Vīrabhadra—surrounded by the splendor of heroic might and attended by Śiva’s gaṇas—was then honored by a celestial shower of flowers that arose from Nandana (Indra’s divine garden).

Word by Word

• वीरश्रिया: with heroic splendor
• वीरश्रिया: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरश्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/साधन, 3rd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वीरस्य श्रीः)

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: विशेषण (Adjectival to implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘covered/surrounded’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (स्थान / Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: अपादान (Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक (from there/then)

• नन्दन-सम्भवा: (a) celestial-origin (event/thing) from Nandana (garden)
• नन्दन-सम्भवा: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (नन्दनात् सम्भवा)

• पुष्प-वृष्टिः: a shower of flowers
• पुष्प-वृष्टिः: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पुष्पाणां वृष्टिः)

• अभूत्: occurred/was
• अभूत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies पुष्पवृष्टिः)

• वीरभद्रे: in/around Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रे: अधिकरण (स्थान / Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• गण-अन्विते: accompanied by attendants (gaṇas)
• गण-अन्विते: विशेषण (Adjective to वीरभद्रे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (गणैः अन्वितः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Shiva (implied through gaṇas)
• Ganas
• Indra (implied through Nandana garden)

FAQs

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

The divine flower-shower signifies cosmic approval of Śiva’s ordained power (śakti) working through Vīrabhadra; it highlights that alignment with Pati (Śiva) is honored by the devas, while ego-driven opposition is ultimately unsustaining.

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

Vīrabhadra is a saguna manifestation of Śiva’s will; honoring him and the gaṇas reinforces devotion to Śiva’s tangible forms and functions, which in turn supports reverence for the Liṅga as the central, worship-worthy presence of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer flowers with the pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and contemplate Śiva’s gaṇas as protectors of dharma—supporting a simple bhakti practice aligned with Śaiva observance.