Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

अनिर्विण्णास्ततस्सर्वे क्रमशोऽवर्द्धयंस्तपः । तेपुस्त्रयस्ते तत्पुत्रा विधिमुद्दिश्य सत्तमाः

Transliteration

anirviṇṇāstatassarve kramaśo'varddhayaṃstapaḥ | tepustrayaste tatputrā vidhimuddiśya sattamāḥ

Translation

Dann steigerten sie alle, unverdrossen, nach und nach ihre Askese. Jene drei, edle Söhne, vollzogen Tapas mit auf Brahmā (Vidhī) gerichtetem Geist, um seine Gnade und Weisung zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• अनिर्विण्णाः: not discouraged
• अनिर्विण्णाः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिर्विण्ण (प्रातिपदिक; निर्-विद्/निर्-विण्ण? ‘to be dejected’ से क्त; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (not despondent)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (all)

• क्रमशः: gradually
• क्रमशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb: gradually/in order)

• अवर्द्धयन्: increased
• अवर्द्धयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु) [अ- उपसर्ग]
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (they increased)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (austerity/penance)

• तेपुः: performed penance
• तेपुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (they performed austerity)

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (three)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (those/they)

• तत्-पुत्राः: his sons
• तत्-पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sons of him/that)

• विधिम्: Vidhi (Brahmā)/the ordinance
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (rule/ordinance; here: Brahmā as Vidhi)

• उद्दिश्य: intending/for the sake of
• उद्दिश्य: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; प्रयोजनार्थ-पूर्वक्रिया (having aimed at/with reference to)

• सत्तमाः: the best ones
• सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; सत् + तमप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अतिशयवाचक (the best of beings)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It emphasizes steadfastness in sādhanā: true seekers do not become despondent but intensify tapas progressively, showing that spiritual ripening comes through sustained discipline and grace.

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

Though the verse names Vidhī (Brahmā) as the intended deity, the Shiva Purana’s broader frame presents tapas and devotion as preparatory purification; such steadiness supports Saguna worship (including Linga-upāsanā) by stabilizing mind and intention for receiving divine revelation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A clear takeaway is gradual, consistent tapas—daily japa and meditation with increasing steadiness; in a Shaiva setting this can be paired with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regulated vows, rather than sporadic intensity.