Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

इत्यादिश्य मयं ब्रह्मा प्रत्यक्षं प्राविशद्दिवम् । तेषां तारकपुत्राणां पश्यतां निजधाम हि

Transliteration

ityādiśya mayaṃ brahmā pratyakṣaṃ prāviśaddivam | teṣāṃ tārakaputrāṇāṃ paśyatāṃ nijadhāma hi

Translation

Après les avoir ainsi instruits, Brahmā—issu de Māyā, la puissance cosmique de manifestation—entra visiblement dans les cieux; et les fils de Tāraka, le regardant, le virent gagner sa propre demeure céleste.

Word by Word

• इति: thus/so (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/quotative particle (निपात), indeclinable

• आदिश्य: having instructed
• आदिश्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive/gerund; having instructed/commanded

• मयम्: Maya (name)
• मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• प्रत्यक्षम्: directly/manifestly
• प्रत्यक्षम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया), indeclinable sense: openly/in person

• प्राविशत्: entered
• प्राविशत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√विश् (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• दिवम्: heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karman (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तारकपुत्राणाम्: of Tāraka’s sons
• तारकपुत्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘sons of Tāraka’; Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• पश्यताम्: of those who were watching
• पश्यताम्: Kāla/avasthā (काल/अवस्था)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ), Genitive plural (षष्ठी बहुवचन) used as ‘while they were seeing’

• निजधाम: his own abode
• निजधाम: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karman (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + धाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय): ‘own abode’; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात) emphatic/causal particle

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa episode to the sages, with Brahmā as the acting figure in the verse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Taraka
• Taraka's sons

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted cosmic administrators like Brahmā operate through māyā within the manifested universe, while the highest liberation in Shaiva thought ultimately belongs to Pati (Śiva) who transcends māyā; Brahmā’s visible departure underscores the ordered, observable functioning of divine governance in the cosmos.

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

By showing Brahmā acting within māyā and returning to his celestial station, the verse indirectly points to the Shaiva emphasis that refuge in Saguna Śiva (worshipped as the Liṅga) grants grace beyond the limits of mere celestial status, which remains within the realm of manifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate viveka (discernment) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while remembering that heavenly attainments are still within māyā; seek Śiva’s grace through Liṅga-pūjā, vibhūti (tripuṇḍra), and steady mantra meditation.