Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

देवाश्च हतशिष्टा ये देवराजपुरोगमाः । प्रचक्रुस्तस्य साहाय्यं प्राणांस्त्यक्तुमिवोद्यताः

Transliteration

devāśca hataśiṣṭā ye devarājapurogamāḥ | pracakrustasya sāhāyyaṃ prāṇāṃstyaktumivodyatāḥ

Translation

ദേവരാജനായ ഇന്ദ്രൻ മുൻപിൽ നിൽക്കെ ശേഷിച്ച ദേവന്മാർ അവനെ സഹായിക്കുവാൻ വേഗത്തിൽ പാഞ്ഞെത്തി—പ്രാണം പോലും ത്യജിക്കാൻ ഒരുങ്ങിയവരെപ്പോലെ।

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• hata-śiṣṭāḥ: those left after being slain (survivors)
• hata-śiṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित) + śiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (हताः, शिष्टाः = slain and remaining)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• deva-rāja-purogamāḥ: with the king of gods as their leader
• deva-rāja-purogamāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + purogama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (देवराजः पुरोगमः येषाम् = having the king of gods as leader)

• pracakruḥ: made/undertook
• pracakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• tasya: for him/of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• sāhāyyam: assistance
• sāhāyyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāhāyya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• prāṇān: life-breaths/lives
• prāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन

• tyaktum: to abandon
• tyaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive)

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• udyatāḥ: ready/poised
• udyatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√yam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); भूतभावे; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Indra

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic courage and self-offering: even divine beings uphold righteousness by assisting in a crisis with complete surrender, a temper that Shaiva Siddhanta values as purified intention aligned to Pati (Shiva).

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

Though the verse is narrative, its mood reflects Saguna-bhakti—active devotion expressed as protective service; in Shiva worship this becomes seva to Shiva’s causes (dharma, devotees, and sacred rites), which supports inner surrender to the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sankalpa-based japa: repeat the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with the resolve to serve dharma selflessly; if following Shaiva custom, accompany it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a calm, offering-minded meditation.