Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

सूर्यमण्डलसंकाशैर्विमानैस्सर्वतोमुखैः । पद्मरागमयैश्चैव शोभितं चन्द्रसन्निभैः

Transliteration

sūryamaṇḍalasaṃkāśairvimānaissarvatomukhaiḥ | padmarāgamayaiścaiva śobhitaṃ candrasannibhaiḥ

Translation

On every side it was adorned with vimānas—celestial aerial chariots—radiant like the orb of the sun and facing in all directions; and it shone still more with ruby (padmarāga) structures, glowing with a moonlike splendor.

Word by Word

• सूर्यमण्डल-संकाशैः: with (those) sun-disc-like
• सूर्यमण्डल-संकाशैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘with (things) resembling the sun-disc’

• विमानैः: with vimānas (aerial cars)
• विमानैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural ‘with aerial chariots’

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण; adverb ‘on all sides’

• मुखैः: with faces/fronts
• मुखैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘with faces/fronts’

• पद्मराग-मयैः: made of rubies
• पद्मराग-मयैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘made of ruby’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय; emphatic particle ‘indeed/just’

• शोभितम्: adorned
• शोभितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु) + णिच्? / शोभित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘adorned/beautified’

• चन्द्र-सन्निभैः: with (those) moon-like
• चन्द्र-सन्निभैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘moon-like’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

FAQs

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

The verse uses cosmic imagery—sunlike brilliance and moonlike serenity—to evoke the majesty of the divine order surrounding Shiva’s līlā, reminding the seeker that even celestial splendor is ultimately a sign pointing toward the Supreme (Pati) rather than the final goal itself.

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

Such descriptions support Saguna-bhakti by giving the mind a sacred, elevated vision; in Shaiva Siddhanta, these luminous forms help steady devotion, which is then directed toward Shiva as the inner Lord worshiped in the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna with japa—visualizing divine radiance while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—so the mind becomes one-pointed and purified, not distracted by worldly glitter.