Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

तं पीड्यमानमालोक्य वीरभद्रो महाबलः । अभ्यधावत वेगेन कोटिभूतयुतस्तथा

Transliteration

taṃ pīḍyamānamālokya vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ | abhyadhāvata vegena koṭibhūtayutastathā

Translation

Thấy người ấy đang bị áp bức khốc liệt, Vīrabhadra—bậc đại lực—liền lao tới với tốc độ như gió, cùng đi theo cũng vậy là vô số crores các bhūta (quỷ thần tùy tùng).

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; pronoun object referring to Lambodara

• पीड्यमानम्: being tormented
• पीड्यमानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीड् (धातु) → पीड्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, शानच्/मान)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘तम्’

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु) → आलोक्य (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): ‘having seen’

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper noun, subject

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘greatly strong’ qualifying ‘वीरभद्रः’

• अभ्यधावत: ran towards
• अभ्यधावत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental of manner

• कोटिभूतयुतः: accompanied by crores of beings
• कोटिभूतयुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + भूत + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘joined/attended by crores of beings’ qualifying ‘वीरभद्रः’

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चय-अव्यय (thus/also)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Bhutas

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva’s protective sovereignty (Pati) working through His śakti-filled agents—Vīrabhadra and the bhūtas—showing that when adharmic oppression rises, Shiva’s order restores balance.

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

Vīrabhadra and the bhūtas represent Saguna Shiva’s accessible, active grace in the world—His manifest power that devotees invoke through Linga-worship, prayer, and remembrance for protection and dharmic alignment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a devotional attitude, remembering Shiva as the protector who removes oppression; optionally support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a Shaiva mark of refuge in Shiva.