Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

लक्ष्म्या किं तद्विपुलया किं कार्यं हि पुरोत्तमैः । अन्यैश्च विपुलैर्भोगैस्स्थानैश्वर्येण वा पुनः

Transliteration

lakṣmyā kiṃ tadvipulayā kiṃ kāryaṃ hi purottamaiḥ | anyaiśca vipulairbhogaissthānaiśvaryeṇa vā punaḥ

Translation

Wozu taugt unermesslicher Reichtum? Wozu bedarf es der höchsten weltlichen Ränge? Und was gewinnt man durch reichliche Genüsse, erhabene Stellungen oder Herrschaft—wenn das höchste Ziel die innige Gemeinschaft mit Śiva ist, jenseits allen Besitzes?

Word by Word

• लक्ष्म्या: with/by prosperity (Lakṣmī)
• लक्ष्म्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prayojana/Question (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• तत्-विपुलया: with that abundant (prosperity)
• तत्-विपुलया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् लक्ष्म्या; समास: सा (लक्ष्मी) या विपुला (कर्मधारय)

• किम्: what (need)?
• किम्: Prayojana/Question (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• कार्यम्: purpose/need
• कार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle) हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• पुर-उत्तमैः: with the best cities
• पुर-उत्तमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समास: पुरेषु उत्तमाः (श्रेष्ठाः) (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• अन्यैः: with other
• अन्यैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् भोगैः/स्थानैश्वर्येण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• विपुलैः: abundant
• विपुलैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् भोगैः

• भोगैः: enjoyments
• भोगैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स्थान-ऐश्वर्येण: with position and lordship
• स्थान-ऐश्वर्येण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: स्थानं च ऐश्वर्यं च (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb): again/further

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, conveying the Yuddhakhaṇḍa teaching that worldly power is secondary to Śiva-bhakti)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General vairāgya-teaching: wealth, rank, pleasures, and sovereignty are questioned as ultimately futile compared to the supreme end (Śiva-sāyujya/communion).

Significance: Encourages tyāga and bhakti; pilgrims are reminded that tīrtha-yātrā is for inner transformation, not status or acquisition.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya: wealth, status, and pleasures cannot satisfy the soul’s deepest need; only devotion to Śiva (Pati) leads beyond bondage (pāśa) toward liberation.

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

It redirects attention from external power to sacred focus—Linga-worship as a concrete (saguṇa) support that turns the mind from transient enjoyments toward Śiva, the eternal Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice simple Śiva-sādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” steady Linga-abhiṣeka with a prayerful mind, and cultivating detachment from luxury and status.