Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)
व्यास उवाच । तस्मिन्महति संग्रामे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे । शुक्रो दैत्यपतिर्विद्वान्भक्षितस्त्रिपुरारिणा
vyāsa uvāca | tasminmahati saṃgrāme dāruṇe lomaharṣaṇe | śukro daityapatirvidvānbhakṣitastripurāriṇā
Vyāsa sprach: In jener großen Schlacht—schrecklich, das Haar zu Berge treibend—wurde Śukra, der gelehrte Herr der Daityas, vom Feind Tripuras, dem Herrn Śiva, verzehrt.
Vyasa
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
Significance: Highlights Śiva as the ultimate regulator of adharma: even the daitya-guru’s power is subject to Śiva’s saṃhāra, teaching humility and dependence on Pati beyond all worldly ‘vidyā’.
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse portrays Lord Śiva (Tripurāri) as the supreme Pati who subdues adharma by consuming even a powerful, learned adversary—signifying the dissolution of ego, arrogance, and binding power (pāśa) before the Lord’s sovereign will.
Tripurāri is a Saguna manifestation of Śiva—worshipped as the compassionate yet formidable Lord who protects cosmic order. Remembering Tripurāri in Linga worship reinforces faith that Śiva alone can burn/consume inner impurities just as he overcomes foes in the Purāṇic narrative.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with contemplation on Tripurāri as the remover of inner enemies (kāma, krodha, ahaṅkāra), optionally supported by vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.