Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

निर्बिभेद रणे वीरो लीलयैव गणेश्वरः । सर्वान्देवगणान्सद्यो मुनीञ्छंभोर्विरोधिनः

Transliteration

nirbibheda raṇe vīro līlayaiva gaṇeśvaraḥ | sarvāndevagaṇānsadyo munīñchaṃbhorvirodhinaḥ

Translation

Sa labanan, ang bayaning si Ganesvara ay pinabagsak sila nang may madaling kaginhawahan—kaagad na sinupil ang lahat ng mga hukbo ng mga diyos at ang mga pantas na naglagay ng kanilang sarili sa pagsalungat kay Shambhu (Panginoong Shiva).

Word by Word

• निर्बिभेद: pierced, broke apart
• निर्बिभेद: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; with उपसर्ग ‘निर्’ (nir-): he split/pierced

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular; apposition to subject

• लीलया: playfully
• लीलया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by play/as sport)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: सम्बन्धसूचक (Emphasis particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (particle of emphasis: indeed/just)

• गणेश्वरः: lord of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular; ‘lord of the gaṇas’

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; qualifying देवगणान्

• देवगणान्: hosts of gods
• देवगणान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; ‘groups of gods’

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मुनीन्: sages
• मुनीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• विरोधिनः: opposing, hostile
• विरोधिनः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; Accusative plural; adjective qualifying देवगणान्/मुनीन् (those opposing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; highlights the effortless (līlā) dominance of Śiva’s gaṇa-lord over devas and even opposing sages, underscoring that tapas/ritual power without Śiva-alignment remains within bondage.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha
• Devas
• Munis

FAQs

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

It highlights that when beings act from opposition to Śiva (Pati), even divine status and ascetic power cannot prevail; true strength arises from alignment and surrender to Śambhu, not from ego-driven resistance.

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

The verse reinforces Saguna Śiva’s sovereign order: those who oppose Śambhu are checked by his śakti manifesting as Gaṇeśa. Linga-worship embodies this principle of accepting Śiva as the supreme Lord and harmonizing one’s will with his grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is humility and śaraṇāgati (surrender) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and seeking Gaṇeśa’s anugraha at the start of worship to remove the obstacle of opposition-born ego.