Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice

and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror

Devanagari script

वीरास्तद्भुजते वक्त्रैर्विलुंपंति क्षिपंति च । वज्रैश्चक्रैर्महाशूलैश्शक्तिभिः पाशपट्टिशैः

Transliteration

vīrāstadbhujate vaktrairviluṃpaṃti kṣipaṃti ca | vajraiścakrairmahāśūlaiśśaktibhiḥ pāśapaṭṭiśaiḥ

Translation

เหล่านักรบผู้กล้าจับพวกนั้นด้วยปากแล้วกลืนกิน ฉีกกระชากและเหวี่ยงทิ้งไปไกล ทั้งฟาดด้วยวัชระ จักราวุธ ตรีศูลใหญ่ ศักติ บาศ และขวานศึก

Word by Word

• vīrāḥ: heroes/warriors
• vīrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• tat: that (him/it)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhujate: eats/devours
• bhujate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vaktraiḥ: with mouths/faces
• vaktraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• viluṃpanti: they plunder/tear away
• viluṃpanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-lup (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• kṣipanti: they hurl/throw
• kṣipanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• vajraiḥ: with thunderbolts
• vajraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• cakraiḥ: with discs
• cakraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• mahāśūlaiḥ: with great spears/tridents
• mahāśūlaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-śūla (प्रातिपदिक; महा + शूल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• śaktibhiḥ: with spears/javelins (śakti-weapons)
• śaktibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• pāśapaṭṭiśaiḥ: with nooses and axes
• pāśapaṭṭiśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa-paṭṭiśa (प्रातिपदिक; पाश + पट्टिश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (pāśaiḥ ca paṭṭiśaiḥ ca)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Battle imagery of Śiva’s vīras executing punitive destruction; not a Jyotirliṅga narrative.

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva’s raudra aspect cuts complacency and ego; remembrance of the Lord as the ultimate wielder of all powers (even those attributed to devas) fosters surrender.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the decisive destruction of hostile forces, symbolizing how Shiva’s grace empowers the purifying removal of adharma and inner impurities (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu), leading it toward liberation under the Lord (Pati).

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

Though the scene is martial, it points to Saguna Shiva as the active protector who subdues negativity and bondage; Linga-worship remembers this same Lord as the transcendent Pati who, through grace, dissolves obstacles to dharma and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take refuge in Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate inner discipline (yoga) to ‘cut’ the noose of bondage—supported by traditional aids like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.