Shloka 30

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

त्रिपुरैस्सह संयुद्धं भस्मत्वकरणं कुतः । भवाञ्चकार गिरिश सुरपक्षीति विश्रुतम्

Transliteration

tripuraissaha saṃyuddhaṃ bhasmatvakaraṇaṃ kutaḥ | bhavāñcakāra giriśa surapakṣīti viśrutam

Translation

“How indeed did the battle with Tripura end in their being reduced to ash? O Girīśa, Lord of the Mountain, it is renowned that you acted as the protector and champion of the gods (surapakṣa).”

Word by Word

• tripuraiḥ: with the Tripuras
• tripuraiḥ: Sahakāraka/Karaṇa (सहकारक/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (or Masculine as name), Instrumental (3rd), Plural; here 'with Tripuras (three cities/demons)'

• saha: together with
• saha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; postposition meaning 'with' (सह-योगे)

• saṃyuddham: battle
• saṃyuddham: Karma (कर्म) (object of implied 'kṛtam/abhavat')
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• bhasmatva-karaṇam: the act of reducing to ashes
• bhasmatva-karaṇam: Karma (कर्म) (object of implied action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasma (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (तद्धित) + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः—'भस्मत्वस्य करणम्' = making into ashes

• kutaḥ: how/whence
• kutaḥ: Sambandha (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative indeclinable (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय) meaning 'whence/how'

• bhavān: you (honored)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; honorific pronoun

• cakāra: did/made
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• giriśa: O Lord of the mountain
• giriśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• sura-pakṣī: the supporter/ally of the gods
• sura-pakṣī: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to 'bhavān')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः—'सुराणां पक्षी' (ally/wing/supporter of gods)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (उद्धरण-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• viśrutam: renowned
• viśrutam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective: 'is renowned'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue contextually within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa, presenting the inquiry addressed to Shiva as Girīśa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Tripura
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s power to reduce Tripura to ash, symbolizing the burning of the threefold bondage (egoic impurities and karmic limitations). In Shaiva Siddhanta, Shiva’s grace destroys the ‘cities’ of ignorance so the soul may move toward liberation.

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

Tripura’s destruction is attributed to Shiva’s deliberate act as Girisha—Saguna Shiva who intervenes in cosmic order. Linga worship remembers this accessible, compassionate Lord whose presence turns impurity into bhasma (purified residue), reinforcing surrender and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The mention of bhasma naturally points to Tripuṇḍra (applying sacred ash) with remembrance of Shiva’s purifying fire, along with japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a daily practice to burn inner Tripura-like impurities.