Shloka 26

वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption

Devanagari script

उवाच च महाघोरं कठिनं वचनन्तदा । वीरभद्रम्महावीरं दंष्ट्राभिर्भीषयन्मुने

Transliteration

uvāca ca mahāghoraṃ kaṭhinaṃ vacanantadā | vīrabhadrammahāvīraṃ daṃṣṭrābhirbhīṣayanmune

Translation

Then, O sage, baring his fangs to strike fear, he spoke exceedingly terrible and harsh words to Vīrabhadra, the great hero.

Word by Word

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

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

• महाघोरम्: very terrible
• महाघोरम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाघोर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + घोर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• कठिनम्: harsh/difficult
• कठिनम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कठिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वीरभद्रम्: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• महावीरम्: great hero
• महावीरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/of Vīrabhadra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + वीर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• दंष्ट्राभिः: with (his) fangs
• दंष्ट्राभिः: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

• भीषयन्: terrifying
• भीषयन्: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भीषय् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it depicts the ugra deity’s intimidation (fangs bared) and harsh speech, emphasizing the overwhelming force of divine wrath before it is cooled/redirected.

Significance: Serves as a cautionary devotional motif: approach to ugra divinity requires steadiness and right mediation; inspires humility and reliance on grace.

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra

FAQs

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

It highlights how the Lord’s fierce, saguna expressions operate as dharma-protecting power: the terrifying speech and display are not mere anger, but a corrective force that subdues arrogance and adharma so that order and right worship can be restored.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s active governance of the cosmos—when devotion and sacrificial order are violated, Shiva’s energies manifest in formidable forms (like Vīrabhadra’s context) to re-establish reverence, which ultimately supports right-oriented Linga-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steadiness in japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and humble devotion—seeking Shiva’s protection through bhakti rather than confronting divine order with pride; if performing worship, maintain purity of intent along with traditional aids like bhasma and rudraksha.