Shloka 45
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
वीरभद्रोऽपि संकुद्धस्सितधारेण चेषुणा । चिच्छेद तच्छरं चैव विव्याध महेषुणा
vīrabhadro'pi saṃkuddhassitadhāreṇa ceṣuṇā | ciccheda taccharaṃ caiva vivyādha maheṣuṇā
Vīrabhadra too, enraged, with a sharp-edged arrow, cut down that missile; and then, with a mighty shaft, he pierced his opponent.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta theme that Shiva’s power acts decisively to protect dharma—Vīrabhadra, as Shiva’s empowered force, removes obstacles (the incoming missile) and restores moral order through precise, controlled might.
Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Shiva—Shiva with form and action—showing that the worship of Shiva’s manifest power is not merely symbolic: it affirms Shiva as the active Pati (Lord) who intervenes to uphold cosmic balance.
A practical takeaway is protective Shiva-sādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with calm focus, coupled with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of inner steadiness even amid conflict.