Shloka 1

त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure

Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । असृजच्च महातेजाः पुरुषं स्वात्मसंभवम् । एकं मायामयं तेषां धर्मविघ्नार्थमच्युतः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | asṛjacca mahātejāḥ puruṣaṃ svātmasaṃbhavam | ekaṃ māyāmayaṃ teṣāṃ dharmavighnārthamacyutaḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: The imperishable Lord, radiant with great splendor, brought forth from His own being a single person—made of Māyā—so as to place an obstacle before their righteous dharmic undertaking.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सनत् + कुमार)

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

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महत् + तेजस्)

• पुरुषम्: a person/being
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• स्वात्मसंभवम्: born from his own self
• स्वात्मसंभवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वात्मनः सम्भवः = arising from his own self)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मायामयम्: made of illusion (māyā)
• मायामयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मायया मयः = consisting of māyā)

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

• धर्मविघ्नार्थम्: for (the purpose of) hindering dharma
• धर्मविघ्नार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + विघ्न + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया (accusative of purpose); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य विघ्नः तस्य अर्थः = for the purpose of obstructing dharma)

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य (subject noun)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Achyuta
• Maya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that obstacles to dharma can arise through Māyā, testing steadiness and discernment; in Shaiva understanding, such trials ultimately push the seeker toward clearer reliance on Pati (the Lord) rather than on fluctuating worldly conditions.

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

When dharmic acts face disruption, Shaiva practice emphasizes returning to Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—because the Linga symbolizes the Lord beyond Māyā while still accessible through ritual, mantra, and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to maintain japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady daily worship (with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa if one follows those observances) when obstacles appear, treating them as Māyā to be transcended.