Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

कथं ददाह भगवान्नगराणि सुरद्विषाम् । त्रीण्येकेन च बाणेन युगपत्केन वीर्यवान्

Transliteration

kathaṃ dadāha bhagavānnagarāṇi suradviṣām | trīṇyekena ca bāṇena yugapatkena vīryavān

Translation

How did the Blessed Lord burn the cities of the enemies of the gods? And how did that mighty One, with a single arrow, destroy the three cities all at once?

Word by Word

• katham: how?
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, interrogative adverb (प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण)

• dadāha: burned
• dadāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• nagarāṇi: cities
• nagarāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana

• sura-dviṣām: of the enemies of the gods
• sura-dviṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive: ‘of’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (surān dviṣanti iti) used as genitive plural

• trīṇi: three
• trīṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; numeral adjective qualifying ‘nagarāṇi’

• ekena: with one
• ekena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental qualifying ‘bāṇena’ (one)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• bāṇena: by an arrow
• bāṇena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• yugapatkena: simultaneous; all-at-once
• yugapatkena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yugapatka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; adjective qualifying ‘bāṇena’

• vīryavān: mighty; powerful
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; possessive adjective

Speaker

The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (ṛṣis) questioning Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The question anticipates the Tripuradahana (burning of the three cities) episode; this verse itself is interrogative and not a shrine-specific sthala-purāṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Tripura (three cities)
• Asuras

FAQs

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

The verse introduces the wonder of Tripura-dāha: Śiva’s single act destroys the “three cities” at once, pointing to His sovereign grace (anugraha) that can dissolve the triple bondage and restore dharma.

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

It highlights Saguna Śiva as the personal Lord who intervenes in history to protect the devas. In Linga-worship, devotees approach this same Lord as the accessible form of the transcendent Pati who removes impurities and grants liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A fitting takeaway is one-pointed japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the intent of burning inner obstacles, supported by Śiva-bhakti and, where traditional, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence.