Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यैर्नीलकुंचितमूर्द्धजैः । मयेन रक्षितैस्सर्वैश्शिक्षितैर्युद्धलालसैः

Transliteration

nīlotpaladalaprakhyairnīlakuṃcitamūrddhajaiḥ | mayena rakṣitaissarvaiśśikṣitairyuddhalālasaiḥ

Translation

Tous—protégés par Māyā—étaient bien entraînés et avides de bataille; leur teint ressemblait aux pétales du lotus bleu, et leurs cheveux étaient sombres et bouclés.

Word by Word

• नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यैः: by/with (those) resembling blue-lotus petals
• नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + उत्पल + दल + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण—(they) 'resembling the petals of blue lotus'

• नीलकुञ्चितमूर्द्धजैः: by/with (those) with blue curled hair
• नीलकुञ्चितमूर्द्धजैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + कुञ्चित + मूर्द्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—'having blue, curled hair'

• मयेन: by Maya (the demon Maya)
• मयेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-निर्देशकः—agent in passive construction

• रक्षितैः: protected
• रक्षितैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—'protected/guarded'

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—'by all'

• शिक्षितैः: trained
• शिक्षितैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—'trained/instructed'

• युद्धलालसैः: eager for battle
• युद्धलालसैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + लालस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—'eager for battle'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Mayāsura’s protection of the daityas evokes ‘māyā’ as both a personal agent (Maya) and a cosmic principle that shields/veils—mirroring Śiva’s tirodhāna function over bound beings.

Significance: Encourages discernment (viveka): what appears as ‘protection’ and power may still be within māyā; seek Śiva beyond the blue-lotus allure of the world.

Characters & Entities

• Mayasura

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how worldly strength—beauty, training, and even powerful protection—can be marshalled in service of conflict; Shaiva teaching ultimately points beyond such asuric pride toward surrender to Shiva (Pati) for liberation.

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

In the Yuddha narrative, the display of asuric might forms the backdrop for Shiva’s saguna intervention and protection of dharma; it implicitly contrasts reliance on demonic guardianship with refuge in Shiva, who is worshipped in the Linga as the supreme protector.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate inner discipline (śikṣā) through japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady worship with bhasma and rudrāksha, redirecting ‘battle-eagerness’ into conquering ego and anger.