Shloka 39

Śiva Grants the Pāśupata Astra (Pāśupata-Śastra Upadeśa) | शिवेन पाशुपतास्त्रदानम्

Devanagari script

महात्मना शड्करेण त्रिपुरं निहतं यदा । तदैतदस्त्र॑ निर्मुक्ते येन दग्धा महासुरा:,“परमात्मा शंकरने जब त्रिपुरासुरके तीनों नगरोंका विनाश किया था, उस समय इस अस्त्रका उनके द्वारा प्रयोग किया गया था; जिससे बड़े-बड़े असुर दग्ध हो गये थे

Transliteration

mahātmanā śaṅkareṇa tripuraṃ nihataṃ yadā | tadaitad astraṃ nirmukte yena dagdhā mahāsurāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “When the great-souled Śaṅkara destroyed Tripura, it was with this very missile; once released, it burned the mighty Asuras to ashes.”

Word by Word

महात्मनाby the great-souled (one)

शङ्करेणby Śaṅkara (Śiva)

त्रिपुरम्Tripura (the three cities/fortresses)

निहतम्was slain/destroyed

यदाwhen

तदाthen

एतत्this

अस्त्रम्weapon (missile)

निर्मुक्तेwhen released/shot forth

येनby which

दग्धाःwere burnt

महासुराःgreat Asuras (demons)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śaṅkara (Śiva)

Tripura

Astra (divine weapon/missile)

Mahāsuras (mighty Asuras)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames divine force as dharmically justified when used to eliminate forces that endanger cosmic and moral order; power is validated by its purpose—restoring balance rather than serving ego or cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana identifies a particular astra being discussed by linking it to a famous precedent: the same weapon was used by Śiva to destroy Tripura, burning the mighty Asuras.