Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

रुद्रालयैः प्रतिगृहमग्निहोत्रैः प्रतिष्ठितैः । द्विजोत्तमैश्शास्त्र ज्ञैश्शिवभक्तिरतैस्सदा

Transliteration

rudrālayaiḥ pratigṛhamagnihotraiḥ pratiṣṭhitaiḥ | dvijottamaiśśāstra jñaiśśivabhaktirataissadā

Translation

In every household, shrines of Rudra were established, and the agnihotra fires were duly maintained. The foremost among the twice-born, learned in the śāstras, were ever absorbed in devotion to Śiva.

Word by Word

• रुद्रालयैः: by/with Rudra-temples
• रुद्रालयैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्रालय (प्रातिपदिक; रुद्र+आलय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• प्रति: per, in each
• प्रति: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय; preposition-like indeclinable

• गृहम्: house
• गृहम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (used with प्रति)

• अग्निहोत्रैः: by/with agnihotra rites
• अग्निहोत्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि+होत्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• प्रतिष्ठितैः: established, set up
• प्रतिष्ठितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग तृतीया बहुवचन; agreeing with अग्निहोत्रैः/रुद्रालयैः

• द्विजोत्तमैः: by the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज+उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• शास्त्रज्ञैः: knowers of the scriptures
• शास्त्रज्ञैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्रज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; शास्त्र+ज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifying द्विजोत्तमैः

• शिवभक्तिरतैः: devoted to Shiva-bhakti
• शिवभक्तिरतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवभक्तिरत (प्रातिपदिक; शिव+भक्ति+रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifying द्विजोत्तमैः

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; adverb of time

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse depicts an ideal Śaiva social order: household Rudrālaya (Śiva-shrine) alongside Vedic agnihotra, indicating harmonization of Śrauta duty with Śaiva bhakti rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga origin-legend.

Significance: Models the merit (puṇya) of sustaining nitya-karma (agnihotra) while orienting all action toward Śiva; in Siddhānta terms, it purifies the paśu and prepares for Śiva’s anugraha through disciplined devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It presents an ideal Shaiva social order where daily life is sanctified: homes become places of worship through Rudra-shrines, and inner purity is supported by disciplined rites, culminating in steady Śiva-bhakti.

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

By highlighting Rudrālaya (Śiva’s shrine) in every home, it supports Saguna worship—accessible, embodied devotion—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga as the consecrated focus of daily reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain regular worship at a home Śiva shrine with a disciplined daily routine (nitya-pūjā), and uphold the spirit of sacred-fire discipline (agnihotra as steadiness and purity), while cultivating constant devotion to Śiva.