Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

विद्रुतांस्त्रिदशान्वीरान्वीरभद्रो महाभुजः । विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैर्मघो वर्षैरिवाचलान्

Transliteration

vidrutāṃstridaśānvīrānvīrabhadro mahābhujaḥ | vivyādha niśitairbāṇairmagho varṣairivācalān

Translation

Bấy giờ Vīrabhadra, vị dũng tướng cánh tay hùng mạnh, dùng những mũi tên sắc nhọn xuyên trúng các chư thiên dũng mãnh đang tháo chạy—như Magha (Indra) trút mưa dồn dập đánh vào núi non.

Word by Word

• विद्रुतान्: fleeing
• विद्रुतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘त्रिदशान्/वीरान्’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-druta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dru/द्रु ‘to run’, PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; PPP—‘fleeing/having fled’

• त्रिदशान्: the gods (Tridaśas)
• त्रिदशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; ‘त्रयः दश’ → ‘gods’ (thirty-three)

• वीरान्: heroes/warriors
• वीरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; apposition to त्रिदशान्

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• महाभुजः: mighty-armed
• महाभुजः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘वीरभद्रः’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘महान्तः भुजाः यस्य’ (one who has great arms)

• विव्याध: pierced
• विव्याध: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-vyadh (धातु √vyadh/व्यध् ‘to pierce’)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; adjective of ‘बाणैः’

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• मघः: Magha (Indra)
• मघः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: magha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet of Indra

• वर्षैः: with rains/showers
• वर्षैः: Karaṇa (करण) (within simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• अचलान्: mountains
• अचलान्: Upameya (उपमेय) (in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Devas
• Indra (Magha)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the devas, when driven by fear or misaligned pride, cannot stand before Śiva’s righteous power manifested as Vīrabhadra; the verse teaches surrender to Pati (Śiva) as the supreme governor of cosmic order.

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

Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Śiva—Śiva with form and action—who protects dharma and corrects disorder; devotion to the Liṅga trains the mind to recognize that the same Supreme (often worshiped as the formless reality) can also act decisively through divine forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to dissolve fear and ego before Śiva’s supreme will.