Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

जितेन्द्रियास्ससन्नद्धास्संयतास्सत्यवादिनः । दृढचित्ता महावीरा देवद्रोहिण एव च

Transliteration

jitendriyāssasannaddhāssaṃyatāssatyavādinaḥ | dṛḍhacittā mahāvīrā devadrohiṇa eva ca

Translation

They were masters of their senses, fully armed and disciplined, devoted to truth. Steadfast in resolve, they were mighty heroes—yet they were indeed hostile to the Devas.

Word by Word

• जितेन्द्रियाः: having conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; √जि (धातु) + इन्द्रिय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियाणि जितानि येषाम्)

• स-सन्नद्धाः: well-armed, fully equipped
• स-सन्नद्धाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्नद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √नह्/नद्ध (धातु) क्त) + स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'स-' उपपदपूर्वक विशेषण (well-armed/fully equipped)

• संयताः: restrained, self-controlled
• संयताः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संयत (प्रातिपदिक; √यम् (धातु) क्त, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (restrained)

• सत्यवादिनः: truth-speaking
• सत्यवादिनः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य-वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक; सत्य + वादिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (सत्यं वदन्ति ये)

• दृढचित्ताः: firm-minded
• दृढचित्ताः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (दृढं चित्तं येषाम्/दृढचित्ताः)

• महावीराः: great heroes
• महावीराः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् वीरः)

• देवद्रोहिणः: traitors to the gods
• देवद्रोहिणः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव-द्रोहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवान् द्रोहन्ति/देवेषु द्रोहः येषाम्)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This characterization underscores a key purāṇic/Śaiva moral: virtues like sense-control and truthfulness, when harnessed for deva-droha (opposition to cosmic order), become instruments of bondage and concealment rather than liberation.

Significance: Didactic value for sādhakas: ethical discipline must be oriented to Śiva-dharma; otherwise it hardens ego (āṇava) and strengthens pāśa.

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that ethical discipline—sense-control, restraint, and truthfulness—are powerful virtues, yet if directed against divine order (dharma) they do not yield liberation. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, inner discipline must be aligned to Pati (Shiva) and dharma; otherwise it can become merely a force that strengthens ego and bondage (pāśa).

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

It implies that virtues alone are incomplete without right orientation toward the Divine. Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship channels discipline into devotion (bhakti), surrender, and purification, so that self-control supports spiritual awakening rather than hostility toward the Devas and dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to pair self-restraint (saṃyama) with Shiva-centered devotion: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with mindful conduct (truthfulness and restraint). If following Purāṇic Shaiva practice, this is commonly supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and remembrance.