Shloka 56

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

अभ्यस्याकर्षणीं विद्यां वशीकृत्यमयीमपि । पुरुषास्सफलीचक्रुः परदारेषु मोहिताः

Transliteration

abhyasyākarṣaṇīṃ vidyāṃ vaśīkṛtyamayīmapi | puruṣāssaphalīcakruḥ paradāreṣu mohitāḥ

Translation

Having practiced the spell of attraction and even the art of subjugation, those men—deluded by desire for others’ wives—made that occult knowledge ‘successful’ in worldly terms, yet it drew them ever deeper into bondage.

Word by Word

• abhyasya: having practiced
• abhyasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√as (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from धातु √as with उपसर्ग abhi; indeclinable verbal form; ‘having practiced’

• ākarṣaṇīm: attractive, drawing (one)
• ākarṣaṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākarṣaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ‘vidyām’

• vidyām: magic/knowledge (spell)
• vidyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaśīkṛtya: having brought under control
• vaśīkṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vaśī-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from causative/denominative sense ‘to bring under control’ (vaśīkṛ); indeclinable; ‘having subdued/controlled’

• mayīm: consisting of, made of
• mayīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mayī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘consisting of/characterized by’

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• puruṣāḥ: men
• puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saphalīcakruḥ: made (it) successful
• saphalīcakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sa-phalī-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); idiom ‘saphalī-kṛ’ = ‘to make successful/fulfil’

• paradāreṣu: in others’ wives (i.e., with others’ women)
• paradāreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para-dāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): para (other’s) + dāra (wife); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mohitāḥ: deluded, infatuated
• mohitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mohita (प्रातिपदिक; √muh धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicative with ‘puruṣāḥ’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudra Saṃhitā’s battle-canto context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

FAQs

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

It warns that powers and ‘success’ gained through occult practices become another form of pāśa (bondage) when driven by kāma and moha; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes purification and devotion to Pati (Shiva), not manipulation of others.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is meant to redirect the mind from desire and control toward surrender, restraint, and inner transformation; the verse contrasts manipulative ‘vidyā’ with dharmic, Shiva-centered sādhanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to avoid desire-driven siddhi-seeking and instead steady the mind with Shiva-mantra japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) alongside dharmic conduct and self-restraint.