Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवद्वाक्यं ततो भूतगणाश्च ते । प्रणम्य देवदेवं तं ययुर्दैत्यपुरत्रयम्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | tacchrutvā bhagavadvākyaṃ tato bhūtagaṇāśca te | praṇamya devadevaṃ taṃ yayurdaityapuratrayam

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Having heard the Lord’s command, those hosts of Śiva’s attendants bowed to that Deva of devas and set out for the three demon-cities, Tripura.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—सनत् (कृदन्त ‘सनत्’ = प्राचीनः) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• भगवत्-वाक्यम्: the Lord’s statement
• भगवत्-वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भगवतः वाक्यम्)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—सम्बन्ध/क्रमवाचक (then/from there)

• भूत-गणाः: the hosts of beings (attendants)
• भूत-गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूतानां गणाः)

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

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having bowed’

• देव-देवम्: the God of gods
• देव-देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवम्)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दैत्य-पुर-त्रयम्: to the three cities of the demons (Tripura)
• दैत्य-पुर-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—(1) दैत्यपुर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दैत्यानां पुरम्) + (2) त्रयम् (द्विगु/संख्यासमास-भावः ‘three’), समस्तपदं लक्ष्य-स्थानवाचक

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva's Ganas
• Tripura (three demon cities)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal of śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): the gaṇas first bow to Śiva, then act—showing that right action flows from devotion, humility, and alignment with the Lord’s will.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva as the personal Lord (Deva of devas) who commands and protects; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to approach Śiva with reverence (praṇāma) before undertaking worldly or spiritual duties.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin any undertaking with praṇāma to Śiva and a brief japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating inner obedience and steadiness before action.