Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

एकस्मिन्रक्षिते जीवे त्रैलोक्यं रक्षितं भवेत् । घातिते घातितं तद्वत्तस्माद्रक्षेन्न घातयेत्

Transliteration

ekasminrakṣite jīve trailokyaṃ rakṣitaṃ bhavet | ghātite ghātitaṃ tadvattasmādrakṣenna ghātayet

Translation

إذا حُفِظت حياةٌ واحدة فكأنّ العوالم الثلاثة قد حُفِظت. وإذا قُتلت حياةٌ واحدة فكأنّ العوالم الثلاثة قد قُتلت. لذلك احموا الحياة ولا تتسبّبوا في القتل أبدًا.

Word by Word

• एकस्मिन्: in one (case)
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्षिते: when (it is) protected
• रक्षिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; ‘when protected’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) → रक्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• जीवे: in a living being
• जीवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास—‘त्रयाणां लोकानां समाहारः’ (the three worlds collectively)

• रक्षितम्: protected
• रक्षितम्: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) → रक्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• भवेत्: would be, becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• घातिते: when (it is) killed
• घातिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; ‘when killed’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घातय्/हन् (धातु) → घातित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• घातितम्: killed
• घातितम्: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घातय्/हन् (धातु) → घातित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb) अर्थः ‘तथैव/तदनुरूपम्’ (likewise)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक निपात (therefore)

• रक्षेत्: should protect
• रक्षेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• घातयेत्: should kill (cause to be killed)
• घातयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (धातु, णिजन्त causative of हन्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages, conveying the ethical teaching within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates the protection of a jīva (living being) to a cosmic act, teaching that compassion and restraint uphold dharma and purify the soul—qualities aligned with Shaiva discipline that supports liberation (moksha).

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to see Shiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati) within all beings; therefore, harming life contradicts Linga-bhakti, while protecting life becomes a practical expression of devotion to Saguna Shiva present in creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ahimsa as a daily vrata alongside Shiva-upasana—offer prayers with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and cultivate compassion before japa or puja, making non-violence the foundation of sadhana.