Shloka 56

Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः

Devanagari script

सतारकाक्षेण मयेन गुप्तं स्वस्थं च गुप्तं स्फटिकाभमेकम् को नाम हन्तुं त्रिपुरं समर्थो मुक्त्वा त्रिनेत्रं भगवन्तमेकम्

Transliteration

satārakākṣeṇa mayena guptaṃ svasthaṃ ca guptaṃ sphaṭikābhamekam ko nāma hantuṃ tripuraṃ samartho muktvā trinetraṃ bhagavantamekam

Translation

Tripura—kept secure and concealed by Māyā, guarded by the star-eyed Tārakākṣa, steadfast and well-protected, shining like a single crystal—who indeed is capable of destroying it, other than the One Lord, the Three-Eyed (Śiva) alone?

Word by Word

• satārakākṣeṇa: by the star-eyed (Tārakākṣa)

• mayena: by Māyā (the asuric architect/illusionist)

• guptam: hidden, protected

• svastham: stable, secure, undisturbed

• ca: and

• guptam: well-guarded

• sphaṭikābha-ekam: one (single) having the splendor of crystal

• kaḥ nāma: who indeed?

• hantum: to slay/destroy

• tripuram: Tripura (the triple celestial cities/fortress)

• samarthaḥ: capable, competent

• muktvā: except for, leaving aside

• trinetram: the Three-Eyed One

• bhagavantam: the Blessed Lord

• ekam: the One alone

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Tripura episode to the sages, with implied devas’ praise)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Tripura
• Tarakaksha
• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It declares Śiva as the sole Pati who can pierce the most fortified bondage (Tripura protected by Māyā), reinforcing that Linga-upāsanā is devotion to the One Lord who dissolves pasha and grants freedom to the paśu (soul).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is presented as ekam—non-dual sovereignty—marked by trinetra (the Three-Eyed seer beyond time), uniquely capable of overcoming māyā-śakti and destroying the seemingly invincible stronghold of ignorance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied teaching aligns with Pāśupata discipline: steadfastness (svastha) and piercing māyā through Śiva-bhakti and inner vision (trinetra symbolism), culminating in the destruction of the ‘Tripura’ of bondage within.