Shloka 50

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

स्त्रीधर्मं खंडयामास पातिव्रत्यपरं महत् । जितेन्द्रियत्वं सर्वेषां पुरुषाणां तथैव सः

Transliteration

strīdharmaṃ khaṃḍayāmāsa pātivratyaparaṃ mahat | jitendriyatvaṃ sarveṣāṃ puruṣāṇāṃ tathaiva saḥ

Translation

He shattered the great dharma of the wife, founded upon pātivratya—devoted fidelity; and likewise he broke the self-mastery, the restraint of the senses, of all men.

Word by Word

• strī-dharmam: women's duty
• strī-dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: स्त्रियाः धर्मः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• khaṇḍayāmāsa: broke/violated
• khaṇḍayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khaṇḍ (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग: ‘broke/violated’

• pātivratya-param: centered on wifely fidelity
• pātivratya-param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pātivratya (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/अर्थ: पातिव्रत्ये परम् = devoted to chastity); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्त्रीधर्मम्’ इति विशेषण

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्त्रीधर्मम्’ इति विशेषण

• jita-indriyatvam: self-control (conquest of the senses)
• jita-indriyatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jita (कृदन्त, √ji) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (तद्धित)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य तत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘पुरुषाणाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• puruṣāṇām: of men
• puruṣāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (so/likewise)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis: indeed/only)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how powerful delusion and agitation can overturn both social dharma (pātivratya/strīdharma) and inner dharma (jitendriyatva). From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, it warns that without Śiva’s grace and steady sādhanā, the bonds (pāśa) of desire can disturb even disciplined minds.

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

It underscores the need to anchor the mind in Saguna Śiva (Liṅga worship) so that external provocations do not fracture virtue and restraint. Liṅga-upāsanā, with reverence and purity, is presented in Purāṇic Shaivism as a stabilizing center that restores dharma and self-control.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to strengthen jitendriyatva through pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as reminders of vairāgya and Śiva-bhakti—especially during vows and observances like Mahāśivarātri.