Shloka 16

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

संस्थितास्ते महात्मानो निराधाराश्चतुर्दिशम् । हेमंते गिरिमाश्रित्य धैर्येण परमेण तु

Transliteration

saṃsthitāste mahātmāno nirādhārāścaturdiśam | hemaṃte girimāśritya dhairyeṇa parameṇa tu

Translation

Those great souls stood firm in all directions, without any support; and in the winter season, taking refuge on the mountain, they endured with supreme steadfastness.

Word by Word

• संस्थिताः: stationed/standing
• संस्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (having stood/being stationed)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (they)

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (great-souled persons)

• निराधाराः: unsupported
• निराधाराः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; निः-उपसर्गयुक्त (without support)

• चतुर्दिशम्: in all four directions
• चतुर्दिशम्: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (in the four directions, all around)

• हेमन्ते: in winter
• हेमन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (in winter)

• गिरिम्: a mountain
• गिरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (mountain)

• आश्रित्य: having taken refuge in
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having resorted to/taken refuge in)

• धैर्येण: with fortitude
• धैर्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (with steadfastness)

• परमेण: supreme
• परमेण: Karana-visheshana (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (supreme)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेष-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

FAQs

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

It highlights tapas grounded in inner reliance: the “great souls” remain steady without external supports, showing Shaiva endurance (dhairya) as a means to purify bonds (pāśa) and mature devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By stressing refuge and steadiness, it implies that true shelter is Shiva as the abiding support (ādhāra). In Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā—the devotee learns unwavering focus even amid hardship, treating Shiva as the constant refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa and austerity: daily Panchākṣarī mantra-japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady mind, optionally supported by bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to constancy during challenging conditions.