Vīrabhadra and Śiva’s command — exact verses
Seven verses include Sanskrit and brief editorial paraphrases, not verbatim BBT translations. Later events from chapters 6 and 7 are included separately for context. Links open the individual Vedabase verses with full translations and available purports.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.5.1
मैत्रेय उवाच
भवो भवान्या निधनं प्रजापते-
रसत्कृताया अवगम्य नारदात् ।
स्वपार्षदसैन्यं च तदध्वरर्भुभि-
र्विद्रावितं क्रोधमपारमादधे ॥ १ ॥
Hearing from Nārada of Satī’s death and his associates’ defeat, Śiva becomes angry.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.5.2
क्रुद्ध: सुदष्टौष्ठपुट: स धूर्जटि-
र्जटां तडिद्वह्निसटोग्ररोचिषम् ।
उत्कृत्य रुद्र: सहसोत्थितो हसन्
गम्भीरनादो विससर्ज तां भुवि ॥ २ ॥
Śiva tears out a blazing strand of hair and casts it to the ground.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.5.3
ततोऽतिकायस्तनुवा स्पृशन्दिवं
सहस्रबाहुर्घनरुक् त्रिसूर्यदृक् ।
करालदंष्ट्रो ज्वलदग्निमूर्धज:
कपालमाली विविधोद्यतायुध: ॥ ३ ॥
Immense black Vīrabhadra appears, thousand-armed, with fearful teeth, fire-like hair, a garland of heads and weapons.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.5.4
तं किं करोमीति गृणन्तमाह
बद्धाञ्जलिं भगवान् भूतनाथ: ।
दक्षं सयज्ञं जहि मद्भटानां
त्वमग्रणी रुद्र भटांशको मे ॥ ४ ॥
Vīrabhadra asks with joined palms what he should do. Śiva appoints him leader of his associates and orders him to kill Dakṣa at the sacrifice.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.5.5
आज्ञप्त एवं कुपितेन मन्युना
स देवदेवं परिचक्रमे विभुम् ।
मेने तदात्मानमसङ्गरंहसा
महीयसां तात सह: सहिष्णुम् ॥ ५ ॥
After receiving the command, Vīrabhadra circumambulates Śiva, confident in his power.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.6.35
विद्यातपोयोगपथमास्थितं तमधीश्वरम् ।
चरन्तं विश्वसुहृदं वात्सल्याल्लोकमङ्गलम् ॥ ३५ ॥
Later, Śiva is described as master of the senses, the world’s friend and a source of auspiciousness.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.7.13
दक्ष उवाच
भूयाननुग्रह अहो भवता कृतो मे
दण्डस्त्वया मयि भृतो यदपि प्रलब्ध: ।
न ब्रह्मबन्धुषु च वां भगवन्नवज्ञा
तुभ्यं हरेश्च कुत एव धृतव्रतेषु ॥ १३ ॥
In the later account, Dakṣa acknowledges his offense and recognizes Śiva’s mercy in the punishment.