Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20
भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः
Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts
पूष्णो दशनरेखां च दीप्तां मुक्तावलीमिव । जघान धनुषः कोट्या स तेनास्पष्टवागभूत्
pūṣṇo daśanarekhāṃ ca dīptāṃ muktāvalīmiva | jaghāna dhanuṣaḥ koṭyā sa tenāspaṣṭavāgabhūt
Du bout de son arc, le Seigneur frappa la rangée de dents éclatantes de Pūṣan, lumineuse comme un chapelet de perles; et sous ce coup, la parole de Pūṣan devint indistincte et trouble.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account to the sages, within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā narration)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: Dakṣa-yajña-dhvaṃsa: Pūṣan (protector/nourisher deity, often linked with guiding and ‘pushing forward’) is struck in the teeth, impairing speech—symbolizing the breakdown of ritual recitation and the arrogance of officiants.
Significance: Allegory: when yajña becomes self-assertive, mantra-vāk loses clarity; true vāg-śuddhi arises from Śiva’s anugraha, not mere ritual expertise.
Cosmic Event: Ritual order (yajña) forcibly halted—cosmic assertion of Śiva as adhiyajña beyond the yajña
FAQs
It illustrates that when a being aligns with pride or opposition to the Supreme Lord (Pati, Shiva), their faculties can become impaired; in Shaiva Siddhanta this points to the binding power of pāśa (limitation) and the need for humility and right alignment with Shiva’s grace.
Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion by showing Shiva’s lordship in protecting dharma; worship of the Linga is a way to turn speech, mind, and action toward Shiva so they become purified rather than distorted by ego and hostility.
Guard and sanctify speech: daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” coupled with simple discipline like vāk-saṃyama (truthful, restrained speech), is a direct takeaway consistent with Shaiva practice.