Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुर्मया वाण्या बोधितस्तं महागणम् । असह्यवर्चसं ज्ञात्वा ह्यंतर्धातुं मनो दधे

Transliteration

atha viṣṇurmayā vāṇyā bodhitastaṃ mahāgaṇam | asahyavarcasaṃ jñātvā hyaṃtardhātuṃ mano dadhe

Translation

Alors Viṣṇu, averti par mes paroles, comprit ce gaṇa puissant. Sachant que son éclat était insoutenable au regard, Viṣṇu résolut en son esprit de se retirer et de devenir invisible.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle of sequence/beginning)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; उत्तमपुरुष; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• वाण्या: with speech/words
• वाण्या: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• बोधितः: was informed
• बोधितः: Karta (कर्ता; of subsequent action, implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (धातु) + -ita (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/ppp); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been informed/awakened’

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• महागणम्: the great troop/host
• महागणम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् गणः)

• असह्यवर्चसम्: (his) unbearable radiance
• असह्यवर्चसम्: Karma (कर्म; as object of ज्ञात्वा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asahya + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (असह्यं वर्चः यस्य/यत्)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having known)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• अन्तर्धातुम्: to disappear/withdraw
• अन्तर्धातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar + √dhā (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); ‘अन्तर्धा’ (to disappear/withdraw); अर्थे—कर्तुं (to do)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• दधे: he set/placed
• दधे: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘placed/held (set)’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva (implied via gaṇa)

FAQs

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

It highlights the principle that even exalted devas recognize the overwhelming tejas associated with Śiva’s domain; true wisdom expresses itself as humility and prudent withdrawal rather than confrontation with the Lord’s power.

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

The “unbearable splendour” points to Saguna Śiva’s manifest majesty (tejas) that protects dharma; in Linga-worship, devotees approach that same presence with reverence, purity, and surrender rather than mere intellectual pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is inner humility and protective recollection of Śiva—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and adopting a reverent, non-confrontational attitude when encountering awe-inspiring spiritual power.