Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषामृषीणां वचनं हरिः । योद्धुकामो भयाद्विष्णुर्वीरभद्रेण तेन वै

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacasteṣāmṛṣīṇāṃ vacanaṃ hariḥ | yoddhukāmo bhayādviṣṇurvīrabhadreṇa tena vai

Translation

梵天曰：听闻诸仙（ṛṣi）所陈之言后，哈利（毗湿奴）本欲出战；然因畏惧彼维罗跋陀罗，毗湿奴确实有所收敛，行事谨慎。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचक (quotative)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबंध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययभाव), ‘having heard’

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (contextually object of hearing: द्वितीया)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• ऋषीणाम्: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वचनम्: statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योद्धुकामः: desiring to fight
• योद्धुकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योद्धुम् (युध् धातोः तुमुन्) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (योद्धुम् कामः)

• भयात्: from fear / out of fear
• भयात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वीरभद्रेण: by/with Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• तेन: by him / with that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Virabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Virabhadra
• Rishis

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta view that all cosmic powers function under Pati (Śiva); even great devas like Viṣṇu show restraint before Śiva’s śakti-manifest force (Vīrabhadra), teaching humility and surrender to the Supreme Lord.

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

Vīrabhadra represents Saguna Śiva’s active, protective power in the world; worship of the Liṅga honors the same Supreme Śiva as the source behind such manifestations, reminding devotees that divine grace and authority flow from Śiva alone.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady devotion; applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing rudrākṣa can be adopted as Shaiva disciplines to cultivate humility and protection.