Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

वीरश्रिया वृतस्तत्र ततो नन्दनसंभवा । पुष्पवृष्टिरभूद्दिव्या वीरभद्रे गणान्विते

Transliteration

vīraśriyā vṛtastatra tato nandanasaṃbhavā | puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūddivyā vīrabhadre gaṇānvite

Translation

Là, Vīrabhadra, entouré de la splendeur de sa puissance héroïque et escorté par les gaṇas de Śiva, fut honoré par une pluie céleste de fleurs provenant du jardin de Nandana.

Word by Word

• वीरश्रिया: with heroic splendor
• वीरश्रिया: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरश्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/साधन, 3rd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वीरस्य श्रीः)

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: विशेषण (Adjectival to implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘covered/surrounded’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (स्थान / Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: अपादान (Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक (from there/then)

• नन्दन-सम्भवा: (a) celestial-origin (event/thing) from Nandana (garden)
• नन्दन-सम्भवा: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (नन्दनात् सम्भवा)

• पुष्प-वृष्टिः: a shower of flowers
• पुष्प-वृष्टिः: कर्ता (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पुष्पाणां वृष्टिः)

• अभूत्: occurred/was
• अभूत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies पुष्पवृष्टिः)

• वीरभद्रे: in/around Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रे: अधिकरण (स्थान / Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• गण-अन्विते: accompanied by attendants (gaṇas)
• गण-अन्विते: विशेषण (Adjective to वीरभद्रे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (गणैः अन्वितः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Shiva (implied through gaṇas)
• Ganas
• Indra (implied through Nandana garden)

FAQs

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

The divine flower-shower signifies cosmic approval of Śiva’s ordained power (śakti) working through Vīrabhadra; it highlights that alignment with Pati (Śiva) is honored by the devas, while ego-driven opposition is ultimately unsustaining.

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

Vīrabhadra is a saguna manifestation of Śiva’s will; honoring him and the gaṇas reinforces devotion to Śiva’s tangible forms and functions, which in turn supports reverence for the Liṅga as the central, worship-worthy presence of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer flowers with the pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and contemplate Śiva’s gaṇas as protectors of dharma—supporting a simple bhakti practice aligned with Śaiva observance.