Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

ततश्चोरसि तं विष्णुं लीलयैव रणाजिरे । जघान वीरभद्रो हि त्रिशूलेन महाबली

Transliteration

tataścorasi taṃ viṣṇuṃ līlayaiva raṇājire | jaghāna vīrabhadro hi triśūlena mahābalī

Translation

پھر میدانِ جنگ میں مہابلی ویر بھدر نے گویا محض کھیل ہی کھیل میں، وِشنو کے سینے پر ترشول سے وار کیا۔

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), काल/अनन्तरार्थ (then/thereafter)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; तम् इति विशेष्य

• लीलया: playfully/as a sport
• लीलया: करण (Instrument/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: सम्बन्धसूचक (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• रणाजिरे: in the battlefield
• रणाजिरे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण + अजिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (रणस्य अजिरम् 'battlefield'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• जघान: struck/slew
• जघान: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ (indeed)

• त्रिशूलेन: with the trident
• त्रिशूलेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि शूलानि/त्रिशूलम् 'trident'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• महाबली: the very mighty one
• महाबली: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् बलवान्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of वीरभद्रः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Virabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse uses the image of Vīrabhadra effortlessly striking Viṣṇu to underscore Rudra’s sovereign power in the cosmic order. In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, it points to Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate Lord, before whom even exalted deities operate within defined limits—encouraging humility and surrender to the Supreme.

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

Vīrabhadra is a fierce, saguna manifestation aligned with Śiva’s will. Remembering such līlās supports saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with form—while the deeper intent is to lead the devotee toward recognizing the one transcendent Lord (signified by the Liṅga) beyond all roles and rivalries.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to steady the mind with Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance), optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as traditional aids to Śaiva discipline.