Shloka 41

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्हृदि विव्याध दानवम् । सप्तभिश्च हयान्केतुं धनुश्छत्रं च चिच्छिदे

Transliteration

vīrabhadrastribhirbāṇairhṛdi vivyādha dānavam | saptabhiśca hayānketuṃ dhanuśchatraṃ ca cicchide

Translation

Vīrabhadra pierced the demon in the heart with three arrows; and with seven more he cut down the horses, the banner, the bow, and the parasol.

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (वीरः च असौ भद्रः)

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• बाणैः: by arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विव्याध: pierced
• विव्याध: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि-

• दानवम्: the demon
• दानवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सप्तभिः: with seven
• सप्तभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• केतुम्: banner/standard
• केतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• छत्रम्: umbrella/parasol
• छत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चिच्छिदे: cut/broke
• चिच्छिदे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadra
• Danava (demon)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shiva’s protective śakti acting through Vīrabhadra: adharma is struck at its “heart” (the root-intention), and its outward supports—status, pride, and power (banner, parasol, weapons, steeds)—are dismantled, showing how divine justice removes both inner and outer causes of wrongdoing.

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

Vīrabhadra embodies Saguna Shiva’s active grace (anugraha) and righteous wrath against adharma. Linga-worship centers the devotee in Shiva as Pati (Lord) who both transcends (Nirguna) and manifests (Saguna) to restore cosmic order when it is violated.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the inner purifier: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while mentally offering one’s ego-symbols (pride, rank, display) into Shiva, and adopting Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder to cut attachment to worldly ‘insignia’ like the banner and parasol.