Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

प्रविष्टमथ तं दृष्ट्वा भद्रं कालाग्निसंनिभम् । दुद्राव मरणाद्भीतो यज्ञो मृगवपुर्धरः

Transliteration

praviṣṭamatha taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhadraṃ kālāgnisaṃnibham | dudrāva maraṇādbhīto yajño mṛgavapurdharaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ പ്രളയകാലാഗ്നിപോലെ ജ്വലിച്ച ഭദ്രൻ അകത്തു പ്രവേശിക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടു, മരണഭീതിയിൽ വിറച്ച മൃഗദേഹധാരിയായ യജ്ഞൻ ഓടിപ്പോയി।

Word by Word

• प्रविष्टम्: entered
• प्रविष्टम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); तं इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: क्रियाविशेषण (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (particle: 'then/now')

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerund; modifies main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• भद्रम्: Bhadra
• भद्रम्: कर्म (Appositional object to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); विशेष्य-रूपेण (proper name/object)

• काल-अग्नि-संनिभम्: resembling the fire of Time (doom-fire)
• काल-अग्नि-संनिभम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to भद्रम्/तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + अग्नि + संनिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कालाग्निना संनिभः = like the fire of Time/doom)

• दुद्राव: ran away
• दुद्राव: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मरणात्: from death (i.e., fearing death)
• मरणात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular); हेत्वर्थे/भयहेतौ (ablative of cause: 'from fear of')

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: विशेषण (Adjectival to यज्ञः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (प्रातिपदिक; √भी (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्तृविशेषणम्

• यज्ञः: Yajña (the sacrifice personified)
• यज्ञः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• मृग-वपुः-धरः: having the form of a deer
• मृग-वपुः-धरः: विशेषण (Adjectival to यज्ञः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृग + वपुस् + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मृगस्य वपुः धारयति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-imagery (kālāgni: fire of Time at dissolution)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhadra
• Yajna

FAQs

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

It shows that when Shiva’s irresistible divine power (here as Bhadra) manifests, mere outward ritualism and fear-bound identity cannot stand; the bound being (pashu) runs from the truth of dissolution, while liberation comes through surrender to Pati (Shiva).

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

Bhadra represents Shiva’s saguna, active presence that protects dharma and dissolves arrogance. Linga-worship trains the mind to offer the ego and the fruits of action to Shiva, so one does not ‘flee’ from divine confrontation but is purified by it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Convert fear into surrender through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence; let all actions become an inner yajña offered to Shiva rather than a status-driven rite.