Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व चरितं शशिमौलिनः । देवर्षिसुखदं शश्वन्मायाविहरतः प्रभोः

Transliteration

etatsarvaṃ samācakṣva caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | devarṣisukhadaṃ śaśvanmāyāviharataḥ prabhoḥ

Translation

Dis-nous tout cela : les actes sacrés du Seigneur qui porte la lune sur son diadème, actes qui réjouissent sans cesse les dieux et les sages, tandis que le Maître suprême se joue à travers sa māyā divine.

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvam: all, entire
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally qualifying etat

• samācakṣva: tell, relate
• samācakṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• caritam: deed, story, conduct
• caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √car)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaśimaulinaḥ: of the moon-crested (Śiva)
• śaśimaulinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśi + maulin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: śaśi-mauli = 'moon-crested'

• devarṣi-sukhadam: pleasing to the divine sages
• devarṣi-sukhadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: devarṣi + sukhada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying caritam/etat-sarvam; तत्पुरुष: 'giving happiness to divine seers'

• śaśvat: always, perpetually
• śaśvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śaśvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• māyā-viharataḥ: of (him) who sports in māyā
• māyā-viharataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā + viharata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vihar)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); present participle used substantively; तत्पुरुष: 'sporting/roaming in māyā'

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

The sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse praises the moon-crested Lord’s līlā through māyā; it is thematic rather than tied to a Jyotirliṅga locale.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames Śiva’s deeds as divine līlā—actions of the moon-crested Lord that uplift consciousness. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, hearing such carita supports devotion (bhakti) and turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva), loosening the bonds of pasha through sacred remembrance.

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

By praising the ‘moon-crested’ Lord and His līlā, the verse directs devotion to Saguna Śiva—Śiva with attributes—who is approached through narrative, icon, and especially the Śiva-liṅga as a focal form for reverence and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) is implied: regularly hear or chant Śiva’s carita with a focused mind, ideally alongside japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintain a devotional attitude while contemplating Śiva as the Lord who governs māyā.