Shloka 26

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुर्महातेजाश्चक्रमुद्यम्य मूर्च्छितः । युयुधे भगवांस्तेन वीरभद्रेण माधवः

Transliteration

atha viṣṇurmahātejāścakramudyamya mūrcchitaḥ | yuyudhe bhagavāṃstena vīrabhadreṇa mādhavaḥ

Translation

అప్పుడు మహాతేజస్సుగల విష్ణువు చక్రాన్ని ఎత్తి, యుద్ధోన్మాదంతో ఆవేశించాడు. భగవాన్ మాధవుడు ఆ వీరభద్రునితో యుద్ధం చేశాడు.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महा-तेजाः: of great radiance
• महा-तेजाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उद्यम्य: having lifted
• उद्यम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having raised/lifted’

• मूर्च्छितः: stupefied / fainted
• मूर्च्छितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: with him
• तेन: Saha/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वीरभद्रेण: with Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रेण: Saha/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• माधवः: Mādhava (Viṣṇu)
• माधवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विष्णोः उपनाम (appellation of Viṣṇu)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Virabhadra

FAQs

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

It shows that even the greatest divine powers enter conflict when dharma is disrupted, yet Rudra’s will (expressed through Vīrabhadra) stands as the higher Shaiva principle—humbling ego and restoring cosmic order.

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

Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Śiva’s active, protective force in history. The episode reinforces devotion to Śiva as the supreme governor who manifests powerfully to re-establish dharma—an attitude central to Linga-worship and Shaiva Siddhānta reverence for Śiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is inner surrender: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance to cool agitation and align one’s will with Śiva’s dharma-restoring grace.