Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36
वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
भूतकोटिसहस्रैस्तु प्रययौ कोटिभिस्त्रिभिः । रोमजैः श्वगणै श्चैव तथा वीरो ययौ द्रुतम्
bhūtakoṭisahasraistu prayayau koṭibhistribhiḥ | romajaiḥ śvagaṇai ścaiva tathā vīro yayau drutam
Disertai ribuan krore para bhūta, dan ditambah tiga krore lagi—bersama bala yang lahir dari rambut serta kawanan anjing—wira perkasa itu pun berangkat dengan pantas.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva’s cosmic sovereignty: even fearsome bhūtas and gaṇas are ordered attendants within dharma. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to Pati (Shiva) governing all beings—pure and impure—transforming fear into reverent surrender.
These hosts represent Saguna Shiva’s manifest power (śakti) in the world—protective, disciplinary, and swift in executing divine will. Linga worship centers the devotee on the Lord who commands all forces; thus one seeks refuge in Shiva rather than being disturbed by lower entities.
A practical takeaway is protective remembrance of Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and wearing Rudraksha or applying Tripundra (bhasma), cultivating fearlessness by anchoring the mind in Shiva as the supreme guardian.