Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

तमुपश्रित्य सन्नादं हतो ऽस्मीत्येव विह्वलम् । शरणार्धेन वक्रेण स वीरो ऽध्वरपूरुषम्

Transliteration

tamupaśritya sannādaṃ hato 'smītyeva vihvalam | śaraṇārdhena vakreṇa sa vīro 'dhvarapūruṣam

Translation

ସେଇ ତୁମୁଳ ନାଦକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି, ‘ମୁଁ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ହତ’ ବୋଲି ଭାବି ବିହ୍ୱଳ ହୋଇଥିବା ସେ ବୀର, ବାଙ୍କା କରି ଧରା ଅର୍ଧଢାଳ ସହ ଅଧ୍ୱରପୁରୁଷ (ଯଜ୍ଞପୁରୁଷ) ନିକଟକୁ ଗଲା।

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• upaśritya: having taken refuge in / resorted to
• upaśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√śri (श्रि धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from उप + श्रि; indeclinable verbal form; sense: 'having resorted to'

• sannādam: loud sound / roar
• sannādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• hataḥ: killed / struck down
• hataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (हन् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• eva: indeed / just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• vihvalam: bewildered / distraught
• vihvalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively/descriptively

• śaraṇa-ardhena: with half an arrow
• śaraṇa-ardhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'śaraṇasya ardhaḥ'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vakreṇa: crooked / bent
• vakreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with śaraṇārdhena

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vīraḥ: hero / warrior
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• adhvara-pūruṣam: the sacrificial person (Yajña-person)
• adhvara-pūruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvara + pūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'adhvarasya pūruṣaḥ'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Adhvara-Purusha (Yajna)

FAQs

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

It depicts a pashu-like condition—fear, confusion, and the sense of being 'destroyed'—driving one to seek refuge; Shaiva Siddhanta reads this as the soul turning from pasha-bound turmoil toward a higher sustaining principle, ultimately fulfilled only in Pati (Shiva).

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

The Adhvara-Puruṣa symbolizes external ritual power, yet the verse’s mood of surrender points to the deeper need for a stable refuge; in Shaiva practice this culminates in approaching Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship as the accessible support that leads the devotee toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) during japa of the Panchakshara—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—and perform an inner yajna: offer fear and ego into awareness while maintaining disciplined protection (self-restraint) like a 'shield' in daily conduct.