Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

मुखबाहूरुसञ्जातं चातुर्वर्ण्य सहोदितम् । कल्पनेयं कृता पूर्वैर्न घटेत विचारतः

Transliteration

mukhabāhūrusañjātaṃ cāturvarṇya sahoditam | kalpaneyaṃ kṛtā pūrvairna ghaṭeta vicārataḥ

Translation

„Die vierfache Ordnung der Varṇas, von der man sagt, sie sei zugleich aus Mund, Armen, Schenkeln und Füßen hervorgegangen, ist nur ein von den Alten erdachtes Gebilde; bei genauer Prüfung hält es nicht stand.“

Word by Word

• मुख-बाहु-ऊरु-सञ्जातम्: born/produced from mouth, arms, and thighs
• मुख-बाहु-ऊरु-सञ्जातम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्जात (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘सञ्जात’ = ‘उत्पन्न’

• चातुर्वर्ण्यम्: the fourfold varṇa system
• चातुर्वर्ण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्वर्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + वर्ण्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चार वर्णों का (समूह/व्यवस्था)’

• सह-उदितम्: arisen together/at the same time
• सह-उदितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (अव्यय) + उदित (कृदन्त; √उद्/√उद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘उदित’ = ‘उत्पन्न/उद्भूत’; ‘सह’ = ‘साथ में’

• कल्पना: a mere imagination/assumption
• कल्पना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृता: made/constructed
• कृता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• पूर्वैः: by the ancients/earlier ones
• पूर्वैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (particle of negation)

• घटेत: would be possible/fit/occur
• घटेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √घट् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विचारतः: upon consideration/when examined
• विचारतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विचारतः (अव्यय; विचार + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = ‘विचार से/विचारतः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, presenting a reflective doctrinal statement within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: rational critique of mythic social-cosmogony (varṇa-from-limbs)

FAQs

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

It redirects the seeker from inherited social labels to vicāra (discriminative inquiry), implying that spiritual worth is grounded in inner conduct, knowledge, and devotion to Shiva rather than birth-based claims.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes Shiva as the universal Pati (Lord) accessible to all; this verse supports that inclusivity by treating rigid birth-origin theories as conceptual and secondary to sincere bhakti and right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with self-inquiry (vicāra) into the Self beyond social identity; let external marks (bhasma, rudrākṣa) be supported by inner humility and ethical discipline.