Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

प्रासादैर्गोपुरैर्दिव्यैः कैलासशिखरोपमैः । दिव्यस्त्रीजनसंकीर्णैर्गंधर्वैस्सिद्धचारणैः

Transliteration

prāsādairgopurairdivyaiḥ kailāsaśikharopamaiḥ | divyastrījanasaṃkīrṇairgaṃdharvaissiddhacāraṇaiḥ

Translation

It was adorned with celestial mansions and splendid gateway-towers (gopuras), resembling the lofty peaks of Kailāsa, and it was thronged with divine women, as well as with Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas.

Word by Word

• प्रासादैः: with palaces
• प्रासादैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural ‘with palaces’

• गोपुरैः: with gateways
• गोपुरैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘with gateways/towers’

• दिव्यैः: divine
• दिव्यैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘divine, splendid’ (agreeing with प्रासादैः/गोपुरैः)

• कैलास-शिखर-उपमैः: like Kailāsa’s peaks
• कैलास-शिखर-उपमैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘like the peaks of Kailāsa’

• दिव्य-स्त्री-जन-संकीर्णैः: crowded with divine women and people
• दिव्य-स्त्री-जन-संकीर्णैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्+कीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कॄ/कीर् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) समासान्त, पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘crowded with divine women/people’

• गन्धर्वैः: with Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘with Gandharvas’

• सिद्ध-चारणैः: with Siddhas and Cāraṇas
• सिद्ध-चारणैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + चारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; copulative ‘with Siddhas and Cāraṇas’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Tripura’s palaces and gopuras are compared to Kailāsa’s peaks—an implicit contrast between Śiva’s true abode (Kailāsa) and the asuric imitation; not a Jyotirliṅga-specific episode.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Kailasa
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas
• Charanas

FAQs

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

The verse depicts a realm patterned after Kailāsa, signaling the Shaiva idea that proximity to Shiva’s sacred sphere is marked by purity, harmony, and elevated consciousness, where refined beings (Siddhas and celestial attendants) naturally gather.

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

By portraying Kailāsa-like splendor and divine assemblies, the text supports Saguna Shiva devotion: the Lord is contemplated with auspicious form and abode, helping devotees concentrate the mind and approach the Linga as the accessible, grace-bestowing presence of Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Kailāsa and Shiva’s auspicious abode while chanting the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using a calm, sattvic visualization to steady the mind before Linga-pūjā.