Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55
वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्
Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas
नन्दी भगस्य नेत्रे हि पातितस्य रुषा भुवि । उज्जहार स दक्षोक्ष्णा यश्शपंतमसूसुचत्
nandī bhagasya netre hi pātitasya ruṣā bhuvi | ujjahāra sa dakṣokṣṇā yaśśapaṃtamasūsucat
Enfurecido, Nandī arrancou os olhos de Bhaga e lançou-os ao chão; depois, com o fogo sacrificial de Dakṣa, queimou aquele que proferia maldições.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Dakṣa-yajña-bhaṅga: Nandī punishes Bhaga (eyes removed) and the curser is scorched by the very sacrificial fire—showing yajña’s power is subordinate to Śiva.
Significance: Reorients the meaning of yajña: without Śiva as the inner recipient, ritual ‘fire’ becomes an instrument of suffering rather than merit.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights the Shaiva teaching that arrogance and contempt toward Śiva and His devotees lead to spiritual blindness; Bhaga’s loss of eyes symbolizes the loss of right vision (jñāna-dṛṣṭi) caused by ego and sacrificial pride.
In the Dakṣa-yajña narrative, ritual power without reverence for Saguna Śiva (the worshipful Lord present as the object of devotion) becomes hollow; the episode reinforces that true worship—often centered on the Liṅga in the Purāṇa—must be grounded in bhakti and surrender, not mere ceremony.
The practical takeaway is to purify intention before worship—approach Śiva with humility, recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, and avoid nindā (disparagement) of Śiva, His devotees, and sacred rites.