Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

शरत्काले प्रसूतं तु भोजनं तु बुभुक्षिताः । रम्यं स्निग्धं स्थिरं हृद्यं फलं मूलमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

śaratkāle prasūtaṃ tu bhojanaṃ tu bubhukṣitāḥ | ramyaṃ snigdhaṃ sthiraṃ hṛdyaṃ phalaṃ mūlamanuttamam

Translation

À la saison d’automne, les affamés prirent une nourriture mûrie en ce temps-là : agréable, onctueuse, nourrissante et réjouissant le cœur ; et ils goûtèrent aussi des fruits et des racines d’une excellence suprême.

Word by Word

• शरत्-काले: in the autumn season
• शरत्-काले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरत् + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शरतः कालः) — Locative singular masculine

• प्रसूतम्: produced (freshly grown)
• प्रसूतम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√सू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — past passive participle ‘produced/born’ (agreeing with bhojanam)

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थक — emphatic/contrastive ‘indeed/but’

• भोजनम्: food
• भोजनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular neuter

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis/contrast

• बुभुक्षिताः: the hungry (people)
• बुभुक्षिताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √भुज् (धातु) + सन् (desiderative) → बुभुक्ष् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: सन्नन्त-धातुज क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘hungry (ones)’ as a substantive

• रम्यम्: pleasant
• रम्यम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — adjective qualifying bhojanam

• स्निग्धम्: unctuous/oily
• स्निग्धम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — adjective qualifying bhojanam

• स्थिरम्: firm/wholesome
• स्थिरम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — adjective qualifying bhojanam

• हृद्यम्: heart-pleasing
• हृद्यम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — adjective qualifying bhojanam

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — (as item of food)

• मूलम्: root (tuber)
• मूलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — (as item of food)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed/excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — superlative sense ‘unsurpassed’, qualifying (phala/mūla/bhojana)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It underscores dharmic harmony with ṛtu (seasonal order): when life is aligned with natural rhythm, nourishment becomes sattva-supporting—steadying the mind and heart, which in Shaiva Siddhanta aids readiness for devotion (bhakti) and disciplined conduct.

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

Though not directly naming the Liṅga, it supports the preparatory ethos of Saguna Shiva worship: wholesome, season-appropriate food steadies the body-mind so the devotee can perform pūjā, japa, and vrata with focus and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ṛtu-śuddhi (seasonal purity): adopt simple, nourishing, wholesome foods (fruits/roots) to support japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Shiva pūjā with a calm, steady mind.