Shloka 37
देवस्तुतिः—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्वं, मायाशक्तिः, कर्मफलप्रदातृत्वं च
Devas’ Hymn: Śiva as Parabrahman, Māyā-Śakti, and Giver of Karmic Fruits
वीराय वीरभद्राय रक्षद्वीराय शूलिने । महादेवाय महते पशूनां पतये नमः
vīrāya vīrabhadrāya rakṣadvīrāya śūline | mahādevāya mahate paśūnāṃ pataye namaḥ
Salutations to the Heroic Lord—to Vīrabhadra; to the valiant Protector; to the Trident-bearer; to the Great God, the supreme and mighty Mahādeva—the Pati, Lord of all paśus, the bound souls.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Sati Khanda context of praising Shiva’s forms such as Vīrabhadra)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: Vīrabhadra arises from Śiva’s wrath to uphold dharma after Satī’s insult at Dakṣa’s sacrifice, embodying the protective-destroying function that restores cosmic order.
Significance: Contemplation of Vīrabhadra strengthens courage, protection, and the cutting of adharma (pāśa) through Śiva’s governance.
Mantra: वीराय वीरभद्राय रक्षद्वीराय शूलिने । महादेवाय महते पशूनां पतये नमः
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: liberating
Offering: dhupa
Cosmic Event: Dakṣa-yajña disruption; dharma-restoration through fierce divine intervention
FAQs
The verse is a namaskāra to Shiva as both fierce protector (Vīrabhadra, śūlin) and supreme Lord (Mahādeva), emphasizing the Shaiva Siddhanta vision of Shiva as Pati— the master who can free the paśu (individual soul) from bondage and grant grace.
These epithets point to Saguna Shiva— worshipped with form and attributes (trident, protective power, Vīrabhadra). In Linga worship, devotees invoke the same Lord as Paśupati and Mahādeva, seeking protection and inner purification while recognizing the Linga as the sign of the Supreme.
A practical takeaway is nāma-japa: repeating these Shiva-nāmas (Mahādeva, Paśupati, Śūlin, Vīrabhadra) with devotion, especially alongside Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple offerings to the Shiva-linga for protection and release from inner bonds.