Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे वीरो वीरभद्रो महाबलः । शंखचूडेन युयुधे समरे बलशालिना

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare vīro vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ | śaṃkhacūḍena yuyudhe samare balaśālinā

Translation

Cependant, le héros Vīrabhadra, doté d’une force immense, engagea le combat sur le champ de bataille contre le puissant Śaṅkhacūḍa.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• अन्तरे: in the interval/meanwhile
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक) < वीर + भद्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नाम

• महाबलः: mighty-strong
• महाबलः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक) < महा + बल
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• शंखचूडेन: with Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शंखचूडेन: सह/प्रतियोगी (Opponent; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंखचूड (प्रातिपदिक) < शंख + चूड
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• बलशालिना: with the strong one / by the powerful (opponent)
• बलशालिना: विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलशालिन् (प्रातिपदिक) < बल + शालिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (शंखचूडस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Shankhachuda

FAQs

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

It depicts Śiva’s protective power working through Vīrabhadra: divine strength is applied to restore dharma, while the devotee is reminded that true sovereignty belongs to Pati (Śiva), not to ego or brute force.

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

Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Śiva—Śiva with form and function—showing that the same Supreme who is beyond attributes also manifests as an active protector for the sake of cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) for inner fearlessness and discipline, cultivating composure (samatva) even when life feels like a battlefield.