Shloka 21

भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3

Devanagari script

इति संचिन्त्य तत्काले विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । ततो यज्ञास्स्मृतास्तेन देवकार्यार्थमक्षयाः

Transliteration

iti saṃcintya tatkāle viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā | tato yajñāssmṛtāstena devakāryārthamakṣayāḥ

Translation

Having thus reflected at that moment, Lord Viṣṇu—mighty in power—then called to mind the imperishable sacrificial rites (yajñas), intending thereby to accomplish the purpose of the gods.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक

• संचिन्त्य: having reflected
• संचिन्त्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग) ; क्त्वा (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• तत्-काले: at that time
• तत्-काले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्मिन् काले)

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• प्रभ-विष्णुना: by the mighty Viṣṇu
• प्रभ-विष्णुना: विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्रभुः विष्णुः)

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• यज्ञाः: sacrifices
• यज्ञाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: were remembered
• स्मृताः: क्रिया (Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) ; क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘were remembered/called to mind’

• तेन: by him
• तेन: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन

• देव-कार्य-अर्थम्: for the purpose of the gods' task
• देव-कार्य-अर्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवानां कार्यस्य अर्थः/निमित्तम्)

• अक्षयाः: imperishable
• अक्षयाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; यज्ञान् विशेषयति

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights mindful discernment followed by dharmic action: Viṣṇu reflects and then turns to yajña as an unfailing means to uphold divine order. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such ritual action is valuable when it serves īśvara-kārya (the divine purpose) and supports purification, preparing the soul for Shiva’s grace.

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

Although the verse names Viṣṇu and yajña, the Shiva Purana frames all sustaining acts within the wider sovereignty of Lord Shiva. Yajña becomes truly ‘akṣaya’ when performed with right intention and devotion—often expressed through Saguna worship such as Shiva-linga pūjā, mantra-japa, and offering, aligning ritual power with Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is sankalpa with remembrance of sacred rites: perform a simple Shiva-oriented discipline—chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before any ritual act, offering water to the Shiva-linga, and maintaining a pure intention that the act serve dharma and the divine purpose.