Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

कोटिकोटिसहस्राणां शतैर्विंश तिभिर्वृतः । वीरेशो ह्यभ्ययाद्वीरः वीरभद्र शिवाज्ञया

Transliteration

koṭikoṭisahasrāṇāṃ śatairviṃśa tibhirvṛtaḥ | vīreśo hyabhyayādvīraḥ vīrabhadra śivājñayā

Translation

Dikelilingi oleh ratusan dan dua puluhan bala tentera yang jumlahnya berpuluh-puluh krore demi krore serta ribu demi ribu, sang wira, tuan para pahlawan—Vīrabhadra—maju dengan gagah, menurut titah Śiva.

Word by Word

• कोटिकोटिसहस्राणाम्: of crores upon crores of thousands
• कोटिकोटिसहस्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + कोटि + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सहस्र), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः (संख्यापरिमाणवाचक-तत्पुरुषः) ‘crores of crores of thousands’

• शतैः: with hundreds
• शतैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विंशतिभिः: with twenties
• विंशतिभिः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: कर्तृविशेषण (Kartar-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘surrounded’

• वीरेशः: lord of heroes (Vīreśa)
• वीरेशः: कर्ता (Kartar)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वीराणाम् ईशः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/causal nuance

• अभ्ययात्: went forth, advanced
• अभ्ययात्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + या (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: कर्ता (Kartar)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: कर्ता (Kartar)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (वीरः भद्रः)

• शिवाज्ञया: by Śiva’s command
• शिवाज्ञया: करण/हेतु (Karaṇa/Hetu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य आज्ञा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Vīrabhadra acts as an instrument of Śiva’s ājñā (divine command), showing how cosmic order is upheld when dharma is violated—power is subordinate to the Lord (Pati) and functions for righteous restoration.

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

Vīrabhadra’s march “by Śiva’s command” underscores Saguna Śiva as the sovereign Lord who wills and directs divine agencies; devotion to the Liṅga/Saguna Śiva includes reverence for His governance of the cosmos through His śaktis and gaṇas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct takeaway is obedience and surrender to Śiva’s will; a fitting practice is japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with bhakti, aligning one’s actions to Śiva’s ājñā rather than ego-driven impulse.