Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
निमेषमात्रात्सहसा महौजास्स वीरभद्रो द्विषतां निहंता । त्रिशूलमुद्यम्य तडित्प्रकाशं जाज्वल्यमानं प्रभया विरेजे
nimeṣamātrātsahasā mahaujāssa vīrabhadro dviṣatāṃ nihaṃtā | triśūlamudyamya taḍitprakāśaṃ jājvalyamānaṃ prabhayā vireje
क्षणभरातच तो महातेजस्वी, शत्रुनाशक वीरभद्र सहसा उभा राहिला; आणि वीजेसारख्या प्रकाशाने जाज्वल्य त्रिशूल उचलून, प्रचंड प्रभेने उजळून निघाला।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse portrays the instantaneous descent of Shiva’s protective power through Vīrabhadra: divine action is swift and decisive when dharma is threatened, and the Lord’s shakti removes hostile, ego-driven forces that obstruct righteousness and devotion.
Vīrabhadra is a Saguna expression of Shiva’s will—an embodied, worship-worthy form through which the formless Lord safeguards devotees and restores cosmic order; the blazing trident symbolizes Shiva’s active grace that cuts bondage and re-establishes dharma.
Meditate on Shiva as the swift protector by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and visualizing the trident’s radiance cutting inner hostility (anger, envy, pride); perform Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Shiva’s purifying, protective power.