Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva
वीरभद्रः पूजितोपि शीघ्रमस्माभिरादरात् । महाक्रोधसमाक्रांतो नास्मान्संरक्षयिष्यति
vīrabhadraḥ pūjitopi śīghramasmābhirādarāt | mahākrodhasamākrāṃto nāsmānsaṃrakṣayiṣyati
“Dẫu chúng ta mau chóng cung kính thờ phụng Vīrabhadra, nhưng khi đã bị cơn đại nộ chiếm giữ, Ngài sẽ không bảo hộ chúng ta.”
Dakṣa’s party (the fearful participants/attendants at Dakṣa’s sacrifice, as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Type: stotra
Role: destructive
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: Rudra’s wrath manifesting as Vīrabhadra disrupting yajña-order
FAQs
It highlights that mere external appeasement cannot counteract the karmic consequence of grave disrespect toward Śiva and His devotees; when adharma ripens into destructive reaction, protection is found not in hurried ritual but in genuine repentance and surrender to Pati (Śiva).
Vīrabhadra is a fierce Saguna manifestation of Rudra; the verse warns that worship done as damage-control, without true Śiva-bhakti and right intention, lacks the inner alignment that makes devotion protective—true Linga-worship is marked by humility, purity, and reverence.
The takeaway is sincere Śiva-śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in Śiva) supported by steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with sattvic conduct; external rites without inner transformation are implied to be insufficient.