Shloka 8

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

विचार्यमाणे देहेऽस्मिन्न किंचिदधिकं क्वचित् । आहारो मैथुनं निद्रा भयं सर्वत्र यत्समम्

Transliteration

vicāryamāṇe dehe'sminna kiṃcidadhikaṃ kvacit | āhāro maithunaṃ nidrā bhayaṃ sarvatra yatsamam

Translation

When this body is examined with discernment, nothing superior is found in it anywhere. Food, sexual union, sleep, and fear—these are seen to be the same everywhere among all embodied beings.

Word by Word

• विचार्यमाणे: when being considered/examined
• विचार्यमाणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु) + विचार्यमाण (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present passive participle); सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुं/नपुंसक (देहे इति पदेन सह)

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक सर्वनाम

• अधिकम्: extra/superior
• अधिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (किञ्चित्)

• क्वचित्: anywhere/ever
• क्वचित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (somewhere/ever)

• आहारः: food/intake
• आहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• मैथुनम्: sexual union
• मैथुनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (everywhere)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक/यत्-शब्दः; विशेषणम् (समम्)

• समम्: equal/same
• समम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic discourse to the sages, with the verse expressing a reflective teaching within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Viveka (discernment) regarding bodily sameness weakens dehābhimāna and supports vairāgya, preparing the paśu for Śiva-anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (discernment): the body’s basic drives—eating, sex, sleep, and fear—are universal and therefore not marks of true greatness. Recognizing this supports vairāgya and turns the seeker toward Pati (Śiva), beyond pashu-like compulsions.

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

By highlighting the body’s sameness and limitations, the verse redirects attention from bodily identity to devotion and surrender. Linga-worship (Saguna Śiva as the sacred sign) becomes a stabilizing focus to transcend instinctive patterns and mature toward Śiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), mindful fasting/regulated diet (especially on Mahāśivarātri), and meditation on the Linga—using discipline to loosen bondage to appetite, lust, lethargy, and fear.