Shloka 16

त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure

Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

Devanagari script

तमुवाच पुनर्विष्णुः स्मृत्वा शिवपदांबुजम् । मोहनीया इमे दैत्याः सर्वे त्रिपुरवासिनः

Transliteration

tamuvāca punarviṣṇuḥ smṛtvā śivapadāṃbujam | mohanīyā ime daityāḥ sarve tripuravāsinaḥ

Translation

Then Lord Viṣṇu spoke again, remembering the lotus-feet of Śiva: “All these Daityas who dwell in Tripura are to be deluded by Māyā.”

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

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

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘स्मृ’ धातोः; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: Shiva’s lotus-feet
• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पद + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मोहनीयाः: to be deluded / enchantable
• मोहनीयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + अनीयर् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle: ‘to be deluded/enchanted’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• दैत्याः: demons
• दैत्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• त्रिपुरवासिनः: dwellers of Tripura
• त्रिपुरवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘त्रिपुरे वसन्ति’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Tripura
• Daityas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even Viṣṇu acts by first recollecting Śiva’s lotus-feet, teaching that success in dharma and victory over adharma arises from surrender to Pati (Śiva), who alone truly governs Māyā and grants right discernment.

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

Remembering “Śiva’s lotus-feet” reflects Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as the gracious Lord with accessible form and attributes. In Purāṇic practice, such remembrance aligns with Linga-worship as a concrete focus for bhakti and inner steadiness before undertaking difficult actions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin endeavors with Śiva-smaraṇa—mental japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and reverent contemplation of Śiva’s feet; this cultivates purity of intention and protection from delusion (moha).