Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46
देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
तं दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रोभूद्भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननः । कृतांत इव पापिष्ठं मृगेन्द्र इव वारणम्
taṃ dṛṣṭvā vīrabhadrobhūdbhrukuṭīkuṭilānanaḥ | kṛtāṃta iva pāpiṣṭhaṃ mṛgendra iva vāraṇam
Melihatnya, wajah Vīrabhadra menjadi berkerut dengan kening yang mengerut tajam. Ia mara ke atas si paling berdosa itu bagaikan Kṛtānta (Maut) sendiri, dan seperti raja singa menghampiri gajah.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Virabhadra
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse depicts the inevitable consequence of adharma: when devotion to Shiva (Pati) is insulted and ego rules, the binding power of pasha tightens and divine justice manifests—here through Vīrabhadra—like Death itself confronting sin.
Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Shiva’s active, protective power—Shiva’s grace that defends dharma and the sanctity of worship. It reinforces that Linga-worship is not mere ritual, but reverence toward Shiva’s living presence; contempt for it leads to spiritual ruin.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate humility and śiva-bhakti through daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to conquer ego—the root cause of the “pāpiṣṭha” condition shown here.