Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3
देवदुःखं ततः श्रुत्वा दत्तं च त्रिपुरालये । ज्ञात्वा व्रतं च तेषां तद्विष्णुर्वचनमब्रवीत्
devaduḥkhaṃ tataḥ śrutvā dattaṃ ca tripurālaye | jñātvā vrataṃ ca teṣāṃ tadviṣṇurvacanamabravīt
Alors, ayant entendu la souffrance des dieux et appris aussi ce qui avait été accordé aux habitants de Tripura, et comprenant le vœu (vrata) qu’ils observaient, le Seigneur Viṣṇu prononça ces paroles.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya; reporting that Vishnu spoke next)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
Sthala Purana: Tripura episode functions as a mythic prelude: devas’ distress and the asuras’ boons set the stage for Śiva’s Tripurāntaka act (destruction as grace).
FAQs
It shows divine governance working through awareness and discernment: Viṣṇu first understands the devas’ pain, the boon behind Tripura’s power, and the Tripura-dwellers’ vrata—implying that outcomes arise from vows, merits, and granted powers, yet are ultimately resolved within Shiva’s higher order (Pati) that restores dharma.
Though Shiva is not named in this line, the Tripura narrative culminates in Shiva’s Saguna intervention for cosmic balance; the verse prepares the ground by showing that even great deities act after assessing boons and vows, pointing devotees toward reliance on Shiva’s manifest grace (often approached through Linga worship) to remove collective affliction.
The key takeaway is the power and responsibility of vrata (sacred observance): undertake vows with purity and Shaiva intention—supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct—so that spiritual power serves dharma rather than egoic domination.