Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

अथ देवो महादेवो वरलीलाविशारदः । केनापि कारणेनात्र सावज्ञं तदवैक्षत

Transliteration

atha devo mahādevo varalīlāviśāradaḥ | kenāpi kāraṇenātra sāvajñaṃ tadavaikṣata

Translation

Dann blickte der Gott Mahādeva—kundig im Gewähren von Gaben und im göttlichen Spiel—aus irgendeinem Grund in eben jenem Augenblick mit bewusstem, absichtsvollem Übersehen darauf.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Avyaya-function (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Sequential particle)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण-रूपेण (appositional)

• वर-लीला-विशारदः: skilled in noble sport
• वर-लीला-विशारदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (Determinative: 'skilled in excellent play'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying Mahādeva)

• केन: by what; by some
• केन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• अपि: some; even
• अपि: Avyaya-function (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (Particle: 'even/some')

• कारणेन: by a reason; due to a cause
• कारणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (Locative adverb: 'here')

• स-अवज्ञम्: contemptuously
• स-अवज्ञम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/सह)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (saha- sense: 'with contempt'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अवैक्षत: he looked at; observed
• अवैक्षत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘knowing disregard’ (sāvajñam) signals līlā and tirodhāna: Śiva momentarily withholds immediate action for a hidden pedagogic/cosmic reason, despite being fully able.

Significance: Instructs that divine delay is not incapacity but līlā—concealment that ripens karma and reveals dependence on grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the sovereign Lord whose glance is never ordinary: even when it appears dismissive, it expresses divine freedom (svātantrya) and purposeful leelā, reminding devotees that His actions arise from higher wisdom, not human emotion.

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

As Saguna Śiva, Mahādeva engages the world through leelā—granting boons and directing events. Linga-worship trains the devotee to perceive this hidden governance: behind outer appearances, Śiva’s conscious will is at work.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) remembrance, learning to accept changing circumstances as guided by Śiva’s higher intention.