Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

सर्वदेवमयो देवस्सर्वेषां मे कुहेलया । असंभवे रथे तिष्ठन् सर्वोपस्करणान्विते

Transliteration

sarvadevamayo devassarveṣāṃ me kuhelayā | asaṃbhave rathe tiṣṭhan sarvopaskaraṇānvite

Translation

That Lord—who embodies all the gods—by my own illusory stratagem stood upon an inconceivable chariot, furnished with every implement of war.

Word by Word

• सर्वदेवमयः: consisting of all gods
• सर्वदेवमयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + देव + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्याप्त्यर्थे तत्पुरुष (सर्वैः देवैः मयः/पूर्णः)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all (of them)
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध) / चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान) एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (my) अधिकयुक्ता

• कुहेलया: by illusion/deception
• कुहेलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• असम्भवे: in an impossible/extraordinary
• असम्भवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (रथे)

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त/पार्टिसिपल), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• सर्वोपस्करणान्विते: equipped with all implements
• सर्वोपस्करणान्विते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + उपस्करण + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (सर्वैः उपस्करणैः अन्वितः) विशेषण (रथे)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva as sarvadevamaya—the indwelling source of all divine powers—who can employ māyā as a compassionate, dharmic means to restore cosmic order, revealing His sovereign Pati-nature over all forces.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva’s accessible, manifest activity (līlā) in the world; Linga worship honors the same Supreme who is beyond form yet appears with form and attributes to protect devotees and uphold dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the all-pervading Lord (sarvadevamaya) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and cultivating surrender, recognizing His guidance even through the veils of māyā.