Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas
नारद उवाच । वीरभद्र महावीर गणानामग्रणीर्भवान् । निवर्तस्व रणादस्माद्रोचते न वधस्त्वया
nārada uvāca | vīrabhadra mahāvīra gaṇānāmagraṇīrbhavān | nivartasva raṇādasmādrocate na vadhastvayā
നാരദൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ മഹാവീര വീരഭദ്രാ, നീ ശിവഗണങ്ങളുടെ അഗ്രനേതാവാണ്. ഈ രണത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പിന്മാറുക; നിനക്കാൽ വധം ചെയ്യുന്നത് യോജിച്ചതല്ല.
Nārada
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights dharmic restraint: even the foremost servant of Śiva should act only in a manner that is spiritually appropriate, showing that devotion is guided by discernment, not mere force.
Vīrabhadra is a Saguna expression of Śiva’s power acting through the Gaṇas; Nārada’s counsel reminds devotees that Saguna power is to be aligned with Śiva’s higher order (dharma), not uncontrolled violence.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of self-restraint (saṃyama), offering one’s impulses into Śiva through mantra and inner discipline rather than aggression.