Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

तेषां तारकपुत्राणां त्रिपुराणां महेश्वर । देवकार्यं कुरु विभो एकत्वमपि चागतम्

Transliteration

teṣāṃ tārakaputrāṇāṃ tripurāṇāṃ maheśvara | devakāryaṃ kuru vibho ekatvamapi cāgatam

Translation

Ô Maheśvara, au sujet de ces Tripura—fils de Tāraka—ô Seigneur tout-puissant, accomplis l’œuvre des dieux ; car leur unité et leur force réunie se sont désormais réalisées.

Word by Word

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

• तारक-पुत्राणाम्: of the sons of Tāraka
• तारक-पुत्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha: 'sons of Tāraka'); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्रिपुराणाम्: of the three cities (Tripuras)
• त्रिपुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महेश्वर: O Maheśvara
• महेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular)

• देव-कार्यं: the gods’ task
• देव-कार्यं: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha: 'work of the gods'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुरु: do (perform)
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• विभो: O Lord
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकत्वम्: unity; being one
• एकत्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Avyaya-function (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (Particle); समुच्चय/अपि = 'also/even'

• च: and
• च: Avyaya-function (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• आगतम्: has come; arrived
• आगतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

The Devas (gods), addressing Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is the devas’ petition that Śiva undertake the destruction of Tripura once the three cities have attained a dangerous unity.

Significance: Frames Śiva as the sole competent Pati who accomplishes deva-kārya (restoring dharma) when collective asuric power becomes unassailable to lesser gods.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Tāraka
• Tripura (Tripurāsura context)

FAQs

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

It shows the Devas taking refuge in Śiva as Maheśvara and Vibhu, acknowledging that when adharma becomes unified and powerful, only the Lord—Pati, the supreme protector—can restore cosmic balance.

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

The verse addresses Śiva in personal, Saguna form (“Maheśvara,” “Vibhu”) as the responsive Lord who acts for the welfare of beings; this is the devotional stance embodied in Liṅga worship—approaching Śiva as the living, gracious protector and remover of obstacles to dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and prayer for inner victory over the ‘three cities’ (egoic impurities), offered with simple Liṅga-abhiṣeka as devotion permits.