Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

ततो विष्णुः स्तंभितो हि वीरभद्रेण नारद । यज्वोपमंत्रणमना नीरस्तंभनकारकम्

Transliteration

tato viṣṇuḥ staṃbhito hi vīrabhadreṇa nārada | yajvopamaṃtraṇamanā nīrastaṃbhanakārakam

Translation

Alors, ô Nārada, Viṣṇu fut réellement immobilisé par Vīrabhadra. Bien qu’il eût l’intention d’invoquer par des mantras les prêtres du sacrifice, son pouvoir d’arrêter et de contraindre se trouva rendu vain.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)

• स्तंभितः: was immobilized
• स्तंभितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (stopped/immobilized)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतौ (particle: indeed/for)

• वीरभद्रेण: by Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन (vocative singular)

• यज्वोपमंत्रणमना: whose mind was set on inviting the sacrificers
• यज्वोपमंत्रणमना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्वन्-उपमन्त्रण-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक; यज्वन् + उपमन्त्रण + मनस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य मनः यज्वोपमन्त्रणम्’ (whose mind was on inviting the sacrificers/priests)

• नीरस्तंभनकारकम्: that which removes the immobilizing (effect)
• नीरस्तंभनकारकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-रस्-स्तम्भन-कारक (प्रातिपदिक; निरस्तम्भन + कारक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (accusative singular; ‘causing non-stopping’/‘removing the immobilization’)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Ritual power (mantra) rendered ineffective by higher īśvara-śakti during Dakṣa-yajña upheaval

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Virabhadra
• Narada

FAQs

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

It shows that even divine authority and mantra-based power become ineffective when opposed to Śiva’s will manifested as Vīrabhadra; in Shaiva Siddhanta, Pati (Śiva) is the supreme governor, and humility before Him is higher than pride in ritual capacity.

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

Vīrabhadra is a Saguna manifestation of Śiva’s protective and corrective power. The verse reinforces that worship centered on Śiva (often through the Liṅga) is not merely ritual technique but surrender to the Lord whose presence overrides all other powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize Śiva-bhakti over mere ritual prowess: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a repentant, non-egoistic attitude, remembering that true efficacy comes through Śiva’s grace.