Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 70
देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा हि विरम्यासौ सन्नद्धोभूद्रणाय च । स्वगणैर्वीरभद्रोपि सन्नद्धोथ महाबलः
brahmovāca | ityuktvā hi viramyāsau sannaddhobhūdraṇāya ca | svagaṇairvīrabhadropi sannaddhotha mahābalaḥ
พรหมาตรัสว่า—ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว พระองค์ก็หยุดและทรงสวมอาวุธพร้อมเพื่อศึก วีรภัทรผู้มีกำลังยิ่งก็พร้อมรบเช่นกัน พร้อมด้วยหมู่คณะของตน
Brahma
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It highlights how divine will moves from declaration to decisive action: when dharma is threatened, Shiva’s power manifests through instruments like Vīrabhadra to restore cosmic order, reminding devotees that Pati (Śiva) protects true devotion and subdues adharma.
Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Śiva—Shiva’s manifest, protective power acting within time and narrative. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see the same Lord as both transcendent (nirguṇa) and immanently active (saguṇa) in safeguarding dharma.
The verse suggests inner “readiness” (sannaddha) through daily Shaiva discipline: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing rudrākṣa, and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a vow of alignment with Shiva’s protection and righteous action.