Shloka 50

Devanagari script

अग्रतो वीरभद्रं च पृष्ठे कीर्तिमुखं तथा । तत एकादशान्रुद्रा न्पूजयेद्विधिना ततः

Transliteration

agrato vīrabhadraṃ ca pṛṣṭhe kīrtimukhaṃ tathā | tata ekādaśānrudrā npūjayedvidhinā tataḥ

Translation

ಮುಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ವೀರಭದ್ರನನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಹಿಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೀರ್ತಿಮುಖನನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿ; ನಂತರ ವಿಧಿವಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಏಕಾದಶ ರುದ್ರರನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agrataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place: 'in front')

• vīrabhadram: Vīrabhadra
• vīrabhadram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारयः; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• pṛṣṭhe: at the back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• kīrtimukham: Kīrtimukha
• kīrtimukham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'likewise/also')

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• ekādaśān: eleven
• ekādaśān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम्

• rudrān: Rudras
• rudrān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• vidhinā: by the prescribed procedure
• vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'thereafter')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As part of the Viśveśvara pūjā-krama, Vīrabhadra (front) and Kīrtimukha (rear) function as ritual guardians (rakṣā-devatā/āvaraṇa) before worship of the Ekādaśa Rudras—expanding the liṅga into a cosmic Rudra-maṇḍala.

Significance: Establishes protective boundaries for worship and aligns the devotee with Rudra-tattva through the Eleven Rudras, preparing for Śatarudrīya recitation and grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virabhadra
• Kirtimukha
• Eleven Rudras

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches ordered, reverent worship of Shiva’s manifest powers—beginning with protective attendants (Vīrabhadra and Kīrtimukha) and extending to the Eleven Rudras—so the devotee aligns mind and ritual with Rudra’s all-pervading presence.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: worshipping Shiva through specific forms and attendants around the sacred focus (commonly the Liṅga), recognizing that these forms are expressions of the one Pati (Lord) who grants grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It indicates a structured pūjā-krama (sequence): place and honor Vīrabhadra in front and Kīrtimukha behind, then worship the Eleven Rudras with prescribed offerings and mantra-recitation (commonly centered on Shiva mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī).