Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces
विरोचनस्तत्र चकार युद्धं बलिश्च बाणश्च सहस्रबाहुः । भजिः कुजंभस्त्वथ शंबरश्च वृत्रादयश्चाप्यथ वीर्यवंतः
virocanastatra cakāra yuddhaṃ baliśca bāṇaśca sahasrabāhuḥ | bhajiḥ kujaṃbhastvatha śaṃbaraśca vṛtrādayaścāpyatha vīryavaṃtaḥ
彼处，毗罗遮那投入战斗；又有婆利，以及千臂的婆那；婆吉、俱阇婆与商婆罗亦然；弗栗陀罗等诸勇士——皆具大勇力——也一同奋战。
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
FAQs
The verse catalogs powerful Asura champions entering battle, highlighting that mere strength and heroism, when driven by ego and opposition to dharma, cannot prevail against the order upheld by Pati (Śiva); true victory is alignment with Śiva’s will and righteousness, not brute might.
In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context, battles dramatize the limits of worldly power; Linga-worship directs the devotee toward Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who subdues chaos and grants protection, while also pointing to the Nirguna reality beyond conflict.
The practical takeaway is to cultivate inner victory over pride through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady devotion; in Shaiva practice this is commonly supported by wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma as reminders of Śiva’s supremacy over ego.