Shloka 35

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रोऽपि भगवान्गणाध्यक्षो महाबलः । नृसिंहकृत्तिं निष्कृष्य समादाय ययौ गिरिम्

Transliteration

vīrabhadro'pi bhagavāngaṇādhyakṣo mahābalaḥ | nṛsiṃhakṛttiṃ niṣkṛṣya samādāya yayau girim

Translation

Then Vīrabhadra also—revered and immensely powerful, the commander of Śiva’s gaṇas—tore away the lion-skin garment, took it up, and went to the mountain.

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—वीर + भद्र (कर्मधारयः)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक निपात (also/even)

• भगवान्: the blessed one
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गणाध्यक्षः: chief of the gaṇas
• गणाध्यक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणाध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—गण + अध्यक्ष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महा + बल (कर्मधारयः)

• नृसिंहकृत्तिम्: the man-lion hide/skin
• नृसिंहकृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंहकृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—नृसिंह + कृत्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• निष्कृष्य: having pulled off
• निष्कृष्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस् + कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); उपसर्ग ‘निस्/निष्’ + धातु ‘कृष्’ (to draw out/pull off)

• समादाय: having taken up
• समादाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); उपसर्ग ‘सम्+आ’ + धातु ‘दा’ (to take)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गिरिम्: to the mountain
• गिरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Shiva (implied via gaṇas)

FAQs

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

It highlights disciplined divine service: Vīrabhadra, though supremely powerful, acts as an instrument of Śiva’s will—showing that true strength in Shaiva thought is power governed by devotion, duty, and inner restraint.

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

Vīrabhadra is a manifestation of Śiva’s Saguna dimension—His active, protective, world-engaged power. Remembering such forms supports devotion to the Linga as the stable center of worship while acknowledging Śiva’s dynamic energies that uphold dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sevā-bhāva with mantra: worship Śiva with steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while cultivating detachment—acting firmly in one’s duties without ego, as Vīrabhadra does.