Shloka 53

Sati's Death & Virabhadra — Sati’s Death and the Assault on Daksha’s Sacrifice: Virabhadra versus the Devas

Devanagari script

हृषीकेशेन मुक्तस्तु वीरभद्रो जटाधरम् गत्वा निवेदयामास वासुदेवात्पराजयम्

Transliteration

hṛṣīkeśena muktastu vīrabhadro jaṭādharam gatvā nivedayāmāsa vāsudevātparājayam

Translation

But Vīrabhadra, having been released/let go by Hṛṣīkeśa, went to the matted-haired Lord (Shiva) and reported his defeat at the hands of Vāsudeva.

Word by Word

• hṛṣīkeśena: by Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• hṛṣīkeśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛṣīkeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• muktaḥ: released/freed
• muktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √muc (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'vīrabhadraḥ'

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• vīrabhadraḥ: Vīrabhadra
• vīrabhadraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrabhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• jaṭādharam: the matted-hair bearer (Śiva)
• jaṭādharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √gam (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्यय), 'having gone'

• nivedayāmāsa: reported/informed
• nivedayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (धातु; causative)
• Form: Causative stem (णिजन्त) 'nivedayati'; Periphrastic perfect (लिट्-परस्मैपद, आमास-योग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāsudevāt: from Vāsudeva
• vāsudevāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• parājayam: defeat
• parājayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parājaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Narratorial layer (within the Purana’s dialogue framework
• typically Pulastya → Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Vāsudeva)
• Shiva (Jaṭādhara)
• Vīrabhadra

Key Themes

• Shaiva-Vaishnava Synthesis
• Devotional hierarchy without sectarian denial
• Divine retinue (gaṇas)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse models truthful accountability: even a mighty agent like Vīrabhadra acknowledges setback and reports it. Ethically, dharma includes transparent reporting and humility before one’s lord.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Carita/Vamśānucarita mode: a narrated incident in divine history emphasizing relationships among deities and their attendants, rather than cosmogenesis.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Reporting defeat to Jaṭādhara’ dramatizes the Purana’s non-sectarian texture: Vishnu’s superiority in a particular encounter does not negate Shiva’s sovereignty; it sets up Shiva’s response as part of a coordinated cosmic drama.