Shloka 8
अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces
विरोचनस्तत्र चकार युद्धं बलिश्च बाणश्च सहस्रबाहुः । भजिः कुजंभस्त्वथ शंबरश्च वृत्रादयश्चाप्यथ वीर्यवंतः
virocanastatra cakāra yuddhaṃ baliśca bāṇaśca sahasrabāhuḥ | bhajiḥ kujaṃbhastvatha śaṃbaraśca vṛtrādayaścāpyatha vīryavaṃtaḥ
There Virocana engaged in battle; and Bali, and Bāṇa of a thousand arms; Bhaji, Kujambha, and Śambara too; and Vṛtra and the others—heroes endowed with great valor—also fought.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
FAQs
The verse catalogs powerful Asura champions entering battle, highlighting that mere strength and heroism, when driven by ego and opposition to dharma, cannot prevail against the order upheld by Pati (Śiva); true victory is alignment with Śiva’s will and righteousness, not brute might.
In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context, battles dramatize the limits of worldly power; Linga-worship directs the devotee toward Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who subdues chaos and grants protection, while also pointing to the Nirguna reality beyond conflict.
The practical takeaway is to cultivate inner victory over pride through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady devotion; in Shaiva practice this is commonly supported by wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma as reminders of Śiva’s supremacy over ego.