Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

अभिलाख्यमुहूर्ते तु विकृष्य धनुरद्भुतम् । कृत्वा ज्यातलनिर्घोषं नादमत्यंतदुस्सहम्

Transliteration

abhilākhyamuhūrte tu vikṛṣya dhanuradbhutam | kṛtvā jyātalanirghoṣaṃ nādamatyaṃtadussaham

Translation

En cet instant décisif, il banda l’arc merveilleux ; faisant résonner la corde, il fit jaillir un rugissement presque insoutenable, tel un tonnerre proclamant sur le champ de bataille une puissance irrésistible.

Word by Word

• अभिलाख्य-मुहूर्ते: at the appointed moment
• अभिलाख्य-मुहूर्ते: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिलाख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अभिलाख्यः मुहूर्तः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-समुच्चय (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थक

• विकृष्य: having drawn (back)
• विकृष्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातुः—कृष्, उपसर्गः—वि

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: विशेषण (qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) धनुः-शब्दस्य

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• ज्या-तल-निर्घोषम्: a twang (sound) of the bowstring
• ज्या-तल-निर्घोषम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ज्यायाः तलस्य निर्घोषः)

• नादम्: a roar/sound
• नादम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अत्यन्त-दुस्सहम्: utterly unbearable
• अत्यन्त-दुस्सहम्: विशेषण (qualifier of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दुस्सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अत्यन्तं दुस्सहः) विशेषणम् नादम्-शब्दस्य

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘decisive moment’ and the drawing of the wondrous bow dramatize the transition from intention (icchā) to action (kriyā) in Tripuradāha—Śiva’s saṃhāra becomes audible and visible through the bowstring’s thunderous twang.

Significance: Remembered as the moment when divine kriyā-śakti becomes manifest; devotees contemplate it for courage and removal of inner obstacles (antarāyas) that ‘cannot endure’ the sound of truth.

FAQs

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

The unbearable bowstring-roar symbolizes the shattering of adharmic pride and inner ego—when divine will manifests, hostile forces (outer enemies and inner vices) lose their footing before the power aligned with Pati (the Supreme Lord).

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

Though set in a battle scene, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s governance of the cosmos: the Lord’s manifest power protects dharma. Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize that the same supreme authority stands behind all worldly events and victories.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati) who makes the mind ‘resound’ with steadiness; japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is a direct takeaway for cultivating fearlessness and focus.