Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

भर्तॄन्कंठगतान्हित्वा काश्चिद्दग्धा वरस्त्रियः । काश्चित्सुप्ताः प्रमत्ताश्च रतिश्रांताश्च योषितः

Transliteration

bhartṝnkaṃṭhagatānhitvā kāściddagdhā varastriyaḥ | kāścitsuptāḥ pramattāśca ratiśrāṃtāśca yoṣitaḥ

Translation

Certaines femmes nobles, abandonnant leurs époux qui s’agrippaient à leur gorge, furent brûlées ; d’autres dormaient, d’autres étaient négligentes et égarées, et d’autres encore, épuisées par le plaisir amoureux.

Word by Word

• भर्तॄन्: husbands
• भर्तॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कण्ठगतान्: clasped at the neck (embraced)
• कण्ठगतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: कण्ठे गताः (gone to/at the neck; i.e., embraced/held at the neck)

• हित्वा: having left/abandoned
• हित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु) → हित्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): “having abandoned”

• काश्चित्: some (women)
• काश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite: “some”)

• दग्धाः: burnt
• दग्धाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दग्ध (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) (स्त्रियः इति बोध्य)

• वरस्त्रियः: excellent women
• वरस्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: वराः स्त्रियः (excellent women)

• काश्चित्: some (women)
• काश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)

• सुप्ताः: asleep
• सुप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप् (धातु) → सुप्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रमत्ताः: careless/intoxicated
• प्रमत्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+मद् (धातु) → प्रमत्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• रतिश्रान्ताः: weary from passion
• रतिश्रान्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रान्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: रत्या श्रान्ताः (weary from love-making)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• योषितः: women
• योषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) (वैदिक/काव्य-प्रयोगे)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Functions as a moral-psychological exemplum: beings caught in moha (heedlessness, sleep, sensual fatigue) are overtaken by destruction—prompting wakefulness (apramāda) and turning toward Śiva.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the fragility of embodied life and the power of moha (delusion): even intimate bonds and sensual absorption cannot protect one from the consequences of violent upheaval, urging vairagya (detachment) and refuge in Pati (Shiva) beyond worldly supports.

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

By contrasting perishable worldly attachments with the need for an enduring spiritual anchor, the narrative implicitly directs the devotee toward Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Linga—as a stable focus for bhakti and purification amid samsaric danger.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily Shiva-smarana with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and adopt simple disciplines like vibhuti (Tripuṇḍra) and japa to reduce pramada (heedlessness) and strengthen inner steadiness.