Shloka 61

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रो रणे भद्रो नैरृत्यां वै रथस्य तु वृषभेन्द्रं समारुह्य रोमजैश् च समावृतः

Transliteration

vīrabhadro raṇe bhadro nairṛtyāṃ vai rathasya tu vṛṣabhendraṃ samāruhya romajaiś ca samāvṛtaḥ

Translation

戦場に勇猛なる吉祥のヴィーラバドラは、車の南西（ナイリティヤ）の側に陣し、王なる牡牛に乗って、全身の毛を逆立てて立った—敵なるパシュの束縛を砕く主（パティ）のごとく、恐るべき相で。

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra

• रणे: in battle

• भद्रः: auspicious, beneficent

• नैरृत्यां: in the south‑west direction

• वै: indeed

• रथस्य: of the chariot/battle-array

• तु: and/also

• वृषभेन्द्रम्: the lord of bulls (Nandin or a supreme bull-mount)

• समारुह्य: having mounted

• रोमजैः: with hairs/bristles

• च: and

• समावृतः: covered, enveloped

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Nandi (implied as Vṛṣabhendra)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It presents Vīrabhadra as Shiva’s protective śakti in action—reminding devotees that Linga worship is not only devotion but also refuge under Pati, who safeguards dharma and removes pasha (bondage).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Through Vīrabhadra’s terrifying yet ‘bhadra’ (auspicious) presence, it conveys Shiva-tattva as simultaneously fierce toward adharma and compassionate toward pashus—destroying obstacles to liberation while remaining beneficent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The imagery aligns with Pāśupata-bhāva: taking refuge in Pati (Shiva) and cultivating fearless steadiness amid conflict—an inner ‘battle-array’ where bondage is confronted and dissolved through Shiva-centered discipline.