Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam
Description of the Burning of Tripura
तस्माद्यत्नस्सुसंभाव्यः सद्भिः कर्तव्य एव हि । गर्हणात्क्षीयते लोको न तत्कर्म समाचरेत्
tasmādyatnassusaṃbhāvyaḥ sadbhiḥ kartavya eva hi | garhaṇātkṣīyate loko na tatkarma samācaret
সেয়ে সজ্জনসকলে ভালদৰে বিবেচনা কৰি চেষ্টা কৰা উচিত। নিন্দাই লোকত মান-মৰ্যাদা ক্ষয় কৰে; সেয়ে ধিক্কাৰ আনে তেনে কৰ্ম নকৰিব।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages, conveying the ethical instruction embedded in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Ethical upadeśa within the war narrative: the ‘sat’ should act with well-weighed effort; blame diminishes one’s loka (standing). In Siddhānta, right conduct (ācāra) supports purification (mala-kṣaya) and receptivity to anugraha.
Significance: Promotes dharmic discipline as a preparatory limb for bhakti and jñāna; pilgrims are reminded that external worship must be matched by blameless conduct.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that a seeker should act with discernment and dharmic intention; blameworthy actions weaken one’s moral force and obstruct steadiness of mind, which is essential for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.
Linga-worship is not merely ritual but a discipline of conduct; honoring Saguna Shiva means aligning one’s actions with purity and restraint so that worship becomes worthy and inwardly transformative.
Adopt daily self-review before japa (especially Panchakshara—Om Namaḥ Śivāya), renouncing actions that invite censure; keep worship supported by clean conduct along with traditional aids like bhasma and rudrāksha where appropriate.