देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
ततो विहस्य सुप्रीतो वीरभद्रो गणाग्रणीः । प्रश्रयावनतोवादीद्विष्णुं देवं हि तत्त्वतः
tato vihasya suprīto vīrabhadro gaṇāgraṇīḥ | praśrayāvanatovādīdviṣṇuṃ devaṃ hi tattvataḥ
അപ്പോൾ ഗണങ്ങളുടെ അഗ്രണിയായ വീരഭദ്രൻ ചിരിച്ചു; അത്യന്തം പ്രസന്നനായി, വിനയത്തോടെ നമിഞ്ഞ്, കാര്യത്തിന്റെ തത്ത്വം പ്രകാരം ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണുവിനോട് സംസാരിച്ചു.
Vīrabhadra
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: teaching
It highlights that even amid cosmic conflict, a true servant of Śiva (Vīrabhadra) speaks from tattva—truth grounded in dharma—tempering power with humility, which is central to Shaiva discipline and right understanding.
Vīrabhadra being ‘Gaṇāgraṇī’ signals the living presence of Śiva’s saguna order (Gaṇas) that protects Śiva’s dharma; such narratives support linga-worship by portraying Śiva’s tangible governance and the reverence due to Śiva’s manifestations and attendants.
The verse implicitly recommends praśraya (humble reverence) as a sādhanā: approach Śiva-pūjā with bowed mind, steady japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and restraint in speech—speaking only from tattva.