Shloka 47
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
वीरभद्रस्ततस्तस्य हयान्बाणैरपातयत् । धनुश्चिच्छेद रथिनः पताकां चापि वेगतः
vīrabhadrastatastasya hayānbāṇairapātayat | dhanuściccheda rathinaḥ patākāṃ cāpi vegataḥ
Then Vīrabhadra struck down his horses with arrows. With swift force he also cut the chariot-warrior’s bow and his banner, shattering that combatant’s pride upon the battlefield.
Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse portrays Vīrabhadra breaking the opponent’s power (horses, bow, and banner), symbolizing how Shiva’s divine agency destroys ego, pride, and unrighteous force—removing the supports by which arrogance “moves” and “stands.”
Vīrabhadra acts as Saguna Shiva’s manifested power—Shiva’s will operating through a form to uphold dharma. Devotion to the Linga recognizes Shiva as the supreme Pati whose śakti can both protect devotees and dismantle adharmic pride.
A practical takeaway is to pair japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with inner renunciation of “supports of pride” (status, display, dominance), offering them mentally into Shiva—optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of humility and surrender.