Shloka 48

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

मुनिमांगिरसं चैव कृशाश्वं च महागणः । जघान मूर्ध्नि पादेन दत्तं च मुनिपुंगवम्

Transliteration

munimāṃgirasaṃ caiva kṛśāśvaṃ ca mahāgaṇaḥ | jaghāna mūrdhni pādena dattaṃ ca munipuṃgavam

Translation

มหาคณะผู้ทรงพลังนั้นได้ทำร้ายฤๅษีอังคีรสและฤๅษีกฤษาศวะ รวมถึงฤๅษีทัตตะผู้ประเสริฐ โดยการเหยียบลงบนศีรษะของพวกเขาด้วยเท้า

Word by Word

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आङ्गिरसम्: Āṅgirasa
• आङ्गिरसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• कृशाश्वम्: Kṛśāśva
• कृशाश्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृश + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कृशः अश्वः (कर्मधारय; proper name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महागणः: the great gaṇa
• महागणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् गणः (कर्मधारय)

• जघान: struck/killed
• जघान: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; रूपम्—जघान

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पादेन: with (his) foot
• पादेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दत्तम्: Datta
• दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √दा-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used as proper name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुनिपुंगवम्: chief of sages
• मुनिपुंगवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—मुनीनां पुंगवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it depicts the violent interruption of Dakṣa’s yajña where even revered ṛṣis are humbled, emphasizing the supremacy of Śiva over sacrificial hierarchy.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Dakṣa-yajña destruction (Rudra’s corrective dissolution of adharmic ritual)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (implied through the gaṇa)
• Gaṇas of Shiva
• Āṅgirasa
• Kṛśāśva
• Datta (sage)

FAQs

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

It underscores Shaiva Siddhanta’s warning against spiritual pride: even renowned ṛṣis are not above the cosmic order upheld by Pati (Śiva). When devotion and humility are absent, power and austerity become ineffective, and Śiva’s gaṇas act as instruments restoring dharma.

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

The gaṇa’s act highlights Saguna Śiva’s living governance of the universe through His attendants and śakti. Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize Śiva as the supreme Lord beyond mere ascetic status, cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) rather than ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is humility-centered worship: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and a devotional attitude, using mantra to soften ahaṅkāra rather than to display spiritual attainment.