# वीरभद्र (vīrabhadra)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/virabhadra

वीरभद्र (vīrabhadra) is a Sanskrit word meaning a distinguished hero, a horse fit for the Ashvamedha sacrifice, andropogon Muricatus, an epithet of a Rudra, an incarnation or fierce form of Shiva, a warrior on the side of the Pandavas. Its 15 recorded definitions are grouped into 7 contexts, among them Emanation/Attendant of Śiva, A Distinguished Hero, Pāṇḍava Warrior in Mahābhārata.

- **SLP1:** `vIraBadra`  **IAST:** vīrabhadra  **Devanagari:** वीरभद्र
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virabhadra
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/virabhadra/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Emanation/Attendant of Śiva (7 definitions)
- an incarnation or fierce form of Shiva  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of an incarnation or form of Śiva (sometimes regarded as his son, and worshipped esp. in the Marāṭha country; in the Vāyu-Purāṇa he is said to have been created from Śiva's mouth in order to spoil the sacrifice of Dakṣa, and is described as having a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet, and wielding a thousand clubs; his appearance is fierce and terrific, he is clothed in a tiger's skin dripping with blood, and he bears a blazing bow and battle-axe; in another Purāṇa he is described as produced from a drop of Śiva's sweat), MBh.; Pur.; Kathās. &c. ( Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 79; 82 ) [ ID=203695 ]
- 1. A horse fit for the Ashvamedha sacrifice. 2. A distinguished hero. 3. A fragrant grass. 4. An attendant of Shiva. 5. One of the Rudras.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वीर (vīra) भद्र (bhadra) (vīrabhadra) [Printed book page 798 ] वीर (vīra) भद्र (bhadra) (vīrabhadra) m. ( - द्रः (-draḥ) ) 1 A horse fit for the Aśvamedha sacrifice. 2 A distinguished hero. 3 A fragrant grass, &c. वीर (vīra) ण (vīraṇa). 4 One of ŚIVA'S attendants. 5 One of the Rudras. E. वीर (vīra) a hero, and भद्र (bhadra) auspicious. [ ID=36370 ]
- 1. A mythical hero created by Shiva. 2. A horse suitable for sacrifice. 3. A type of fragrant grass.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वीरभद्र (vīrabhadra) [Printed book page 684-32 ] वीर - भद्र (vīra-bhadra) m. 1. name of a hero produced by Śiva; 2. a horse fit for sacrifice; 3. a kind of fragrant grass. [ ID=35965 ]
- 1. A horse fit for the Ashvamedha sacrifice. 2. A distinguished hero. 3. A fragrant grass. 4. One of Shiva's attendants. 5. One of the Rudras.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वीर (vīra) भद्र (bhadra) (vīrabhadra) [Printed book page 682-a ] वीर (vīra) भद्र (bhadra) (vīrabhadra) m. ( - द्रः (-draḥ) ) 1. A horse fit for the Aśwamedha sacrifice. 2. A distinguished hero. 3. A fragrant grass, “ वीर (vīra) ण ” (“vīraṇa”) 4. One of ŚIVA'S attendants. 5. One of the RŪDRAS. E. वीर (vīra) a hero, भद्र (bhadra) auspicious. [ ID=38067 ]
- a divine being evolved from Shiva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > [Printed book page 740-1 ] Vīrabhadra 2, a divine being evolved from Śiva. § 695 b (Dakṣayajñavināśa): XII, 285, 10307 (created from the wrath of Śiva), (10325), 10327, 10329 (created the Raumyas who destroyed the sacrifice of Dakṣa). [ ID=12135 ]
- A fierce warrior form created from the wrath of Shiva to destroy Daksha's sacrifice.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > वीरभद्र (vīrabhadra) [Printed book page 3-296 ] Vīrabhadra (I) — created out of anger of Śiva on his hearing of Satī's self-sacrifice to destroy Dakṣa's yajña; seized Dakṣa, cut off his head and offered it to Dakṣiṇāgni, and then set out for Kailāsa. After reconciliation with Śiva, Viṣṇu was propitiated with Puroḍāśa to get rid of pollution due to Vīrabhadra's interference in the Yajña; 1 after destroying the sacrifice was about to destroy the world; Śiva stopped him and blessed him to be the first of all grahas by name Aṅgā- raka; 2 hearing that he came out of the wrath of Paśupati Dakṣa appeased him by prayers. Śiva rose from the fire altar and granted him his request that his sacrifice be fruit- ful when Dakṣa praised him with 1008 names. 3 Page3-297+ 26 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. IV. ch. 5 (whole); 7. 17; Vā. 30. 130-160; 101. 299.] [ Footnote: 2) M. 72. 13-6; 192. 6.] [ Footnote: 3) Vā. 30. 161-180.] [ ID=13390 ]
- 1. One of the attendants of Shiva. 2. The head of a Shiva gana.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 3-297 ] Vīrabhadra (II) — one of the Śiva's attendants; the head of a Śiva gaṇa. Br. III. 32. 23; 41. 28; IV. 14. 8. [ ID=13391 ]

### A Distinguished Hero (2 definitions)
- a distinguished hero  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 1006,1] वीर (vīra) — भद्र (—bhadra) m. a distinguished hero, L. [ ID=203691 ]
- 1. A horse fit for sacrifice. 2. A hero. 3. Fragrant grass.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वीरभद्र (vīrabhadra) [Printed book page 716-b ] वीर - भद्र (vīra-bhadra) ( द्रः ) ((draḥ)) 1. m. Horse fit for sacrifice; a hero; fragrant grass. [ ID=35983 ]

### Pāṇḍava Warrior in Mahābhārata (2 definitions)
- a warrior on the side of the Pandavas  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a warrior on the side of the Pāṇḍavas, MBh. [ ID=203696 ]
- A Pandava warrior  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > वीरभद्र (vīrabhadra) [Printed book page 739-2 ] Vīrabhadra 1, a Pāṇḍava warrior. § 600 (Ghaṭotkaca- vadhap.): VII, 158 χ, 7011 (brother of Virāṭa?) (only C.). [ ID=12134 ]

### A Fragrant Grass (Andropogon Muricatus) (1 definition)
- Andropogon Muricatus  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Andropogon Muricatus, L. [ ID=203693 ]

### Horse for Aśvamedha Sacrifice (1 definition)
- a horse fit for the Ashvamedha sacrifice  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a horse fit for the Aśva-medha sacrifice, L. [ ID=203692 ]

### Name of a King or Author (1 definition)
- of a king and various authors  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a king and various authors, Cat. [ ID=203697 ]

### Name of a Rudra (1 definition)
- an epithet of a Rudra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Rudra, Yājñ., Sch. [ ID=203694 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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