Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī
दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि शतशो मुमुचे दानवेश्वरः । तानि चिच्छेद तं बाणैर्वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान्
divyānyastrāṇi śataśo mumuce dānaveśvaraḥ | tāni ciccheda taṃ bāṇairvīrabhadraḥ pratāpavān
Le seigneur des Dānavas décocha par centaines des armes célestes. Mais le vaillant Vīrabhadra, embrasé de prouesse, les trancha de ses flèches et le frappa de ses traits.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It shows that worldly power—even “divine” weaponry—cannot prevail over Śiva’s ordained force. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Śiva) alone is truly sovereign; when His śakti moves through Vīrabhadra, hostile forces and their instruments are rendered ineffective.
Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Śiva—Śiva with form acting within history to uphold dharma. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see that the formless Lord (Nirguna) also manifests as protective, active grace (anugraha) when adharma rises.
In times of fear or inner conflict, take refuge in japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady the mind with a simple Shaiva discipline such as applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that Śiva’s power cuts through obstacles like Vīrabhadra’s arrows.