Shloka 98

अध्याय ८२ — व्यपोहनस्तवः (पापव्यपोहन-स्तोत्रम्)

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रो महातेजा हिमकुन्देन्दुसन्निभः रुद्रस्य तनयो रौद्रः शूलासक्तमहाकरः

Transliteration

vīrabhadro mahātejā himakundendusannibhaḥ rudrasya tanayo raudraḥ śūlāsaktamahākaraḥ

Translation

Vīrabhadra, embrasé d’un éclat immense—resplendissant comme la neige, le jasmin et la lune—était le fils farouche de Rudra, terrible en puissance, la main puissante armée du trident (triśūla).

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra

• महातेजाः: of great radiance/power

• हिम: snow

• कुन्द: jasmine

• इन्दु: moon

• सन्निभः: resembling, comparable to

• रुद्रस्य: of Rudra (Śiva)

• तनयः: son, offspring

• रौद्रः: fierce, Rudra-like

• शूल: trident

• आसक्त: attached to/firmly holding

• महाकरः: great-handed, having a mighty hand

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It presents Vīrabhadra as Rudra’s radiant yet fearsome śakti-in-action, a protector aspect associated with safeguarding Śiva’s dharma and the sanctity of Śaiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By portraying Rudra’s “son” as both luminous (moon-like purity) and terrible (raudra, trident-bearing), the verse reflects Śiva-tattva as simultaneously auspicious (śiva) and formidable (rudra)—Pati who rules and liberates pashus by destroying pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No explicit puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is meditative invocation (dhyāna) on Rudra’s protective power—visualizing the trident-bearing guardian principle that removes obstacles to Pāśupata discipline and Śiva-bhakti.