Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36
भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः
Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts
तमुपश्रित्य सन्नादं हतो ऽस्मीत्येव विह्वलम् । शरणार्धेन वक्रेण स वीरो ऽध्वरपूरुषम्
tamupaśritya sannādaṃ hato 'smītyeva vihvalam | śaraṇārdhena vakreṇa sa vīro 'dhvarapūruṣam
அந்த பேரொலியைச் சார்ந்து, ‘நான் கொல்லப்பட்டேன்’ எனத் திகைத்து கலங்கிய அந்த வீரன், சாய்வாகப் பிடித்த அரை-கேடயத்துடன் அத்வர-புருஷன் (யஜ்ஞ-புருஷன்) அருகே சென்றான்।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
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).
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.
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.