Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

नष्टं पुरत्रयं मत्वा देवसाहाय्यमित्युत । करिष्यथः प्रयत्नेनाधिकृतौ सर्गपालने

Transliteration

naṣṭaṃ puratrayaṃ matvā devasāhāyyamityuta | kariṣyathaḥ prayatnenādhikṛtau sargapālane

Translation

«Teniendo por destruida la Triple Ciudad, sin duda prestaréis ayuda a los dioses; pues habéis sido debidamente designados para el gobierno y la preservación de la creación, y con esfuerzo sincero debéis sostener su orden.»

Word by Word

• naṣṭam: destroyed
• naṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with puratrayam

• pura-trayam: the three cities (Tripura)
• pura-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; द्विगु-समासः

• matvā: having considered
• matvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), avyaya

• deva-sāhāyyam: help of the gods
• deva-sāhāyyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhāyya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘देवानां साहाय्यम्’

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इत्यर्थक)

• uta: also, moreover
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे)

• kariṣyathaḥ: you two will do
• kariṣyathaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); parasmaipada

• prayatnena: by effort
• prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• adhikṛtau: appointed, commissioned
• adhikṛtau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; used predicatively for the two addressed

• sarga-pālane: in the protection/governance of creation
• sarga-pālane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarga (प्रातिपदिक) + pālana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्गस्य पालनम्’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that after Shiva’s decisive removal of adharma (symbolized by Tripura), the devas must not become complacent; they must actively uphold sṛṣṭi-sthiti (order and preservation) as their divinely assigned duty under Shiva’s supreme lordship (Pati).

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

Tripura’s fall highlights Shiva as Saguna—actively intervening for cosmic balance—yet the verse points to his continuing sovereignty as the inner governor. Linga-worship remembers this ever-present Pati, who empowers the devas and devotees to sustain dharma through right action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is seva to dharma with steadiness: worship Shiva with the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined effort (prayatna). This can be supported by daily Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application and japa as a reminder to act as an instrument of Shiva’s order.