Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
कृत्वा क्रोधं महावीरस्सकलासुरनायकः । जघान परया शक्त्या वीरभद्रं तदोरसि
kṛtvā krodhaṃ mahāvīrassakalāsuranāyakaḥ | jaghāna parayā śaktyā vīrabhadraṃ tadorasi
അപ്പോൾ ക്രോധത്തിൽ ജ്വലിച്ച ആ മഹാവീരൻ, സകല അസുരന്മാരുടെയും നായകൻ, തന്റെ പരമശക്തിയാൽ വീരഭദ്രന്റെ വക്ഷസ്ഥലത്ത് പ്രഹരിച്ചു।
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights the clash between ego-driven, anger-fueled force and Shiva-aligned dharmic power. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it points to how krodha (a binding impurity) intensifies bondage, while Shiva’s order ultimately prevails through His instruments like Vīrabhadra.
Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Shiva’s fierce, protective function—Shiva’s grace acting in form to uphold cosmic balance. Remembering such episodes supports devotional focus on Shiva’s manifest aspects, often centered in Linga worship as the stable symbol of His presence.
A practical takeaway is to counter krodha with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to cultivate śānti through vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa remembrance, aligning the mind with Shiva rather than reactive anger.