Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 78

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

ततो महान् गतः कालो वसतां पुण्यकर्मणाम् । यथासुखं यथाजोषं सद्राज्यं कुर्वतां मुने

Transliteration

tato mahān gataḥ kālo vasatāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām | yathāsukhaṃ yathājoṣaṃ sadrājyaṃ kurvatāṃ mune

Translation

তাৰ পিছত তাত বাস কৰা পুণ্যকৰ্মী লোকসকলৰ বহু কাল অতিবাহিত হ’ল। তেওঁলোকে যেথাসুখে যেথাইচ্ছা, হে মুনি, সুশাসিত আৰু সুসংগঠিত ৰাজ্য চলাই থাকিল।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence; meaning 'thereafter/then'

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kālaḥ

• gataḥ: passed/elapsed
• gataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) + kta (क्त) (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; used predicatively with kālaḥ: 'has gone/passed'

• kālaḥ: time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vasatām: of (those) living
• vasatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (वस्) + śatṛ (शतृ) (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); 'of those dwelling/residing'

• puṇya-karmaṇām: of the virtuous-doers
• puṇya-karmaṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); base: puṇyakarman-; 'of those whose deeds are meritorious'

• yathā-sukham: comfortably
• yathā-sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverb; accusative-form used adverbially; 'according to comfort/at ease'

• yathā-joṣam: as they pleased
• yathā-joṣam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + joṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverb; 'as desired/according to liking'

• sat-rājyam: good kingdom/rule
• sat-rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); object of kurvatām

• kurvatām: of those governing/doing
• kurvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) + śatṛ (शतृ) (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); 'of those who were doing/maintaining'

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It affirms that sustained dharmic conduct (puṇya-karma) creates social harmony and inner steadiness; in Shaiva thought, such ordered living supports purity (śuddhi) that matures devotion toward Pati (Śiva) and prepares the soul for grace.

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

Though it does not name the Liṅga directly, it describes the fruit of living under dharma—an environment where daily Śiva-pūjā, mantra-japa, and temple duties can continue without obstruction, supporting Saguna Śiva worship as a stable sādhanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is steady daily observance: regular pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and consistent Śiva-pūjā as part of dharmic household and civic life, rather than sporadic practice.