Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast
प्रगृहीतायुधा यौद्धुंक्रुद्धाः समुपतस्थिरे । तान्दृष्ट्वा समरे भद्रःक्षुद्रानिव हरिर्मृगान्
pragṛhītāyudhā yauddhuṃkruddhāḥ samupatasthire | tāndṛṣṭvā samare bhadraḥkṣudrāniva harirmṛgān
เหล่าเทพถืออาวุธไว้ในมือ โกรธเกรี้ยวและกระหายศึก จึงกรูกันเข้าหาเขา ครั้นเขาเห็นพวกนั้นในสนามรบ วีรบุรุษผู้องอาจก็มองว่าเป็นศัตรูจ้อย—ดุจสิงห์เห็นกวางน้อยไร้ความหมาย
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it is a battlefield escalation where the ‘bhadra’ (hero) treats the oncoming devas as insignificant—typical of Śaiva narratives where Śiva’s side (or Śiva’s empowered agent) is unshaken.
Significance: Spiritual lesson: worldly and even celestial opposition is ‘small’ before the Lord’s ordinance; cultivates fearlessness grounded in dharma and devotion.
FAQs
It portrays the Shaiva ideal of inner fearlessness: when one stands aligned with dharma and under the lordship of Pati (Shiva), hostile forces appear small—like deer before a lion—signifying mastery over pasha (bondage) such as fear and agitation.
Though the verse is a battlefield simile, it supports Saguna Shiva-bhakti by emphasizing steadfastness and protection: devotion to Shiva as the accessible Lord strengthens the devotee’s resolve, making external threats seem insignificant.
A practical takeaway is cultivating fearlessness through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna on Shiva as Pati, which disciplines the mind against anger and fear—inner enemies mirrored by the outer battle scene.