Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam
Description of the Burning of Tripura
ततोङ्गुष्ठे गणाध्यक्षस्स तु दैत्यनिशंस्थितः । न लक्ष्यं विविशुस्तानि पुराण्यस्य त्रिशूलिनः
tatoṅguṣṭhe gaṇādhyakṣassa tu daityaniśaṃsthitaḥ | na lakṣyaṃ viviśustāni purāṇyasya triśūlinaḥ
Alors, le chef des Gaṇa, posté sur le pouce de Śiva, fit face au seigneur des démons. Pourtant, les antiques traits célestes de ce Seigneur au Trident ne purent l’atteindre ni trouver leur cible en lui.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It emphasizes that worldly power and even weaponry are limited before Śiva’s higher śakti; victory ultimately belongs to Pati (Śiva), and the devotee’s refuge is surrender rather than force.
The verse points to Saguna Śiva as Triśūlin—the personal Lord who acts in the world—yet whose true nature cannot be ‘hit’ or contained by ordinary means, echoing the Liṅga as the transcendent sign beyond grasp.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge), recognizing that inner surrender is more potent than external exertion.