Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

इति निश्चित्य वै विष्णुर्विघ्नार्थमकरोत्तदा । तेषां धर्मस्य दैत्यानामुपायं श्रुति खण्डनम्

Transliteration

iti niścitya vai viṣṇurvighnārthamakarottadā | teṣāṃ dharmasya daityānāmupāyaṃ śruti khaṇḍanam

Translation

Having thus resolved, Viṣṇu then acted to create an obstacle. As a means to undermine the Daityas’ dharma, he set about the ‘breaking’—the disruption and distortion—of the authority of the Śruti, the Vedic revelation.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Prakāra/Ittham (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• निश्चित्य: having decided
• निश्चित्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-चित् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having ascertained/decided’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विघ्नार्थम्: for causing obstruction
• विघ्नार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विघ्न + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी/प्रयोजन: विघ्नाय अर्थः), अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘for the purpose of obstruction’

• अकरोत्: did, made
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• धर्मस्य: of (their) dharma
• धर्मस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• दैत्यानाम्: of the Daityas
• दैत्यानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उपायम्: means, method
• उपायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुति: śruti, Veda
• श्रुति: Viśeṣaṇa/Upapada (विशेषण/उपपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (used appositionally), एकवचन

• खण्डनम्: breaking, refutation
• खण्डनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; appositive to ‘upāyam’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Daityas
• Shruti (Vedas)

FAQs

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

The verse shows that when dharma becomes a tool of ego and power (as with the Daityas), divine governance may permit confusion around sacred authority (Śruti) so that false religiosity collapses and the soul is redirected toward true alignment with Pati (Śiva), the ultimate ground of dharma.

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

In Śaiva understanding, authentic Śiva-worship (Liṅga/Saguṇa upāsanā) rests on right doctrine and right conduct. ‘Śruti-khaṇḍanam’ highlights that when revelation is distorted, worship can degrade into mere ritualism or manipulation—whereas Liṅga-bhakti thrives when Śruti and Śiva-dharma are honored in their true intent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to protect one’s sādhana through fidelity to revealed guidance: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a disciplined, truthful life—so practice remains rooted in dharma rather than confusion or doctrinal distortion.