Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

तुषारदेहसंछन्ना जलक्लिन्नेन वाससा । आसाद्य देहं क्षौमेण शिशिरे तोयमध्यगाः

Transliteration

tuṣāradehasaṃchannā jalaklinnena vāsasā | āsādya dehaṃ kṣaumeṇa śiśire toyamadhyagāḥ

Translation

Ihre Körper waren von Reif bedeckt, und ihre Gewänder waren vom Wasser durchnässt. In jener winterlichen Kälte, in Leinen gehüllt, blieben sie mitten im Wasser stehen.

Word by Word

• तुषार-देह-संछन्नाः: covered with frost on their bodies
• तुषार-देह-संछन्नाः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुषार (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + संछन्न (प्रातिपदिक; छद् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (covered with snowy bodies / bodies covered with frost)

• जल-क्लिन्नेन: wet with water
• जल-क्लिन्नेन: Karana-visheshana (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्लिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; क्लिद् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (wet with water)

• वाससा: with a garment
• वाससा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (with a garment/cloth)

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having reached/approached)

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (body)

• क्षौमेण: with linen
• क्षौमेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (with linen cloth)

• शिशिरे: in the cold season
• शिशिरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (in the cold season)

• तोय-मध्य-गाः: standing in mid-water
• तोय-मध्य-गाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक; गम् धातोः क्त/प्रत्ययान्त ‘gone’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (gone into the middle of water)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights tapas (disciplined austerity) and steadiness of will—enduring cold and discomfort to purify the mind and direct one’s intention toward Lord Shiva, the Pati (Lord) who grants grace and liberation.

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

Such bodily austerities are portrayed as supportive disciplines that prepare the devotee for focused Saguna worship—steadfast japa, dhyana, and Linga-upasana—where devotion becomes stable and receptive to Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined sadhana: perform regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with restraint and purity; if doing vratas, keep them safe and moderate, emphasizing inner concentration over extreme physical hardship.