Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

स्वचक्रमादाय महानुभावश्चुकोप चातीव भवैकभर्त्ता । महाबली तैर्युयुधे प्रवीरैस्सक्रुद्धनानायुधधारकोस्त्रैः

Transliteration

svacakramādāya mahānubhāvaścukopa cātīva bhavaikabharttā | mahābalī tairyuyudhe pravīraissakruddhanānāyudhadhārakostraiḥ

Translation

Cầm lấy đĩa thần (cakra) của chính mình, bậc đại hùng—Bhava, đấng Chúa tể duy nhất—bừng lên cơn thịnh nộ dữ dội. Mạnh mẽ vô song, Ngài giao chiến với các dũng sĩ kia, những kẻ trong cơn giận dữ vung đủ loại vũ khí và phi tiễn (astra).

Word by Word

• स्वचक्रम्: his own discus
• स्वचक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-चक्र (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + चक्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), ‘having taken’

• महानुभावः: the great one (of mighty power)
• महानुभावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान्-अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक; महान् + अनुभाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चुकोप: became angry
• चुकोप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कुप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रता-अव्यय (adverb: exceedingly)

• भवैकभर्ता: the sole lord of Bhava (Śiva)
• भवैकभर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव-एक-भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; भव + एक + भर्तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भवस्य एकः भर्ता’ (sole lord of Bhava/Śiva)

• महाबली: very strong
• महाबली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक; महा + बलिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तैः: with/by those
• तैः: Karta (कर्ता; सह/विरोधे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रवीरैः: with the heroes
• प्रवीरैः: Karta (कर्ता; सह/विरोधे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सक्रुद्ध: angry
• सक्रुद्ध: Karta (कर्ता; सह/विरोधे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; सह + क्रुद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘प्रवीरैः’)

• नानायुधधारकैः: with bearers of various weapons
• नानायुधधारकैः: Karta (कर्ता; सह/विरोधे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना-आयुध-धारक (प्रातिपदिक; नाना + आयुध + धारक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘various-weapon-bearers’

• अस्त्रैः: with weapons/missiles
• अस्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; साधन (instrument/means)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Bhava (Śiva) as the eka-bhartā, the sole Lord whose fierce power arises to uphold dharma. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, his wrath is not human passion but the Lord’s protective action that removes obstructive forces and re-establishes right order for the uplift of souls.

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

It supports Saguna Shiva worship by showing the Lord as an active, personal protector who takes up weapons for the world’s welfare. The Liṅga is the stable, worshipful symbol of that same Lord—who can be serene in grace and also terrible in power when dharma is threatened.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” coupled with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of the Lord’s protection and inner purification amid conflict.