Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

ततोंतरिक्षादशृणोद्धनुर्बाणधरो हरः । मुंजकेशो विरूपाक्षो वाचं परमशोभनाम्

Transliteration

tatoṃtarikṣādaśṛṇoddhanurbāṇadharo haraḥ | muṃjakeśo virūpākṣo vācaṃ paramaśobhanām

Translation

Dann vernahm man aus dem mittleren Himmel Hara — den Bogen- und Pfeilträger, mit verfilzten Locken wie Muñja-Gras und wunderbaren, allsehenden Augen — wie er Worte von höchster Pracht sprach.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

• antarikṣāt: from the sky/atmosphere
• antarikṣāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antarikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• aśṛṇot: heard
• aśṛṇot: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• dhanus-bāṇa-dharaḥ: the bearer of bow and arrows
• dhanus-bāṇa-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/षष्ठी: dhanuso bāṇānāṃ ca dharaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण harasya

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• muṃja-keśaḥ: one whose hair is like muṃja-grass
• muṃja-keśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṃja (प्रातिपदिक) + keśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (muṃja-sadṛśāḥ keśāḥ yasya saḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण harasya

• virūpa-akṣaḥ: the odd/unique-eyed one
• virūpa-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (virūpe akṣiṇī yasya saḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण harasya

• vācam: speech/words
• vācam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• parama-śobhanām: supremely beautiful
• parama-śobhanām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (paramā ca sā śobhanā), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण vācam

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, describing Lord Śiva’s voice)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Saguna Śiva as Hara—both protector and remover—whose divine speech descends from the subtle realm (antarikṣa), indicating that grace and guidance arise beyond ordinary perception yet directly govern dharma.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva with attributes (bow, matted locks, Virūpākṣa eyes). Such depiction supports devotional contemplation (dhyāna) of Śiva’s form, which culminates in Linga-worship as the stable, all-pervading symbol of the same Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Virūpākṣa Śiva as the all-seeing protector while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and to adopt Shaiva markers like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness in devotion.