Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57
वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्
Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas
ववृषुस्ते पुरीषाणि वितानाऽग्नौ रुषा गणाः । अनिर्वाच्यं तदा चक्रुर्गणा वीरास्तमध्वरम्
vavṛṣuste purīṣāṇi vitānā'gnau ruṣā gaṇāḥ | anirvācyaṃ tadā cakrurgaṇā vīrāstamadhvaram
ક્રોધથી તે વીર ગણોએ યજ્ઞ-વિતાનની નીચેની અગ્નિમાં મલ વરસાવ્યું; અને તે ક્ષણે તેમણે તે અધ્વરને અવર્ણનીય રીતે કલુષિત અને અસ્તવ્યસ્ત કરી દીધો.
Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It shows that yajña performed with pride and disrespect toward Pati (Śiva) loses its sanctity; ritual power collapses when devotion, humility, and right intent are absent, and the Gaṇas become agents revealing the futility of ego-driven dharma.
The episode contrasts external ritualism with honoring Saguna Śiva as the living Lord of all rites; in Shaiva understanding, worship of Śiva (often through the Liṅga) purifies intention and aligns action with divine grace, without which sacrifices become spiritually barren.
Prioritize purity of mind and reverence: daily Śiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and simple Śiva-pūjā with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and devotion—so actions are consecrated rather than merely performed.