Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

ववृषुस्ते पुरीषाणि वितानाऽग्नौ रुषा गणाः । अनिर्वाच्यं तदा चक्रुर्गणा वीरास्तमध्वरम्

Transliteration

vavṛṣuste purīṣāṇi vitānā'gnau ruṣā gaṇāḥ | anirvācyaṃ tadā cakrurgaṇā vīrāstamadhvaram

Translation

Pris de fureur, ces Gaṇas héroïques firent pleuvoir des immondices dans le feu sous le dais du sacrifice, et, à cet instant, ils rendirent ce rite indicible : souillé et livré au chaos.

Word by Word

• ववृषुः: they rained down / showered
• ववृषुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पुरीषाणि: filth / excrement
• पुरीषाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• विताने: in the canopy / pavilion
• विताने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रुषा: with anger
• रुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• गणाः: the gaṇas (attendants)
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अनिर्वाच्यम्: indescribable
• अनिर्वाच्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + निर्वाच्य (वच् धातु + यत्, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be described') with negation

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• चक्रुः: they made
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गणाः: the gaṇas
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वीराः: heroes / valiant ones
• वीराः: Visheshya/Karta (विशेष्य/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (गणाः इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अध्वरम्: sacrifice (ritual)
• अध्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows that yajña performed with pride and disrespect toward Pati (Śiva) loses its sanctity; ritual power collapses when devotion, humility, and right intent are absent, and the Gaṇas become agents revealing the futility of ego-driven dharma.

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

The episode contrasts external ritualism with honoring Saguna Śiva as the living Lord of all rites; in Shaiva understanding, worship of Śiva (often through the Liṅga) purifies intention and aligns action with divine grace, without which sacrifices become spiritually barren.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize purity of mind and reverence: daily Śiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and simple Śiva-pūjā with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and devotion—so actions are consecrated rather than merely performed.