Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3

Devanagari script

गत्वा तत्प्रविशंतश्च त्रिपुराधिपतेजसि । भस्मसादभवन्सद्यश्शलभा इव पावके

Transliteration

gatvā tatpraviśaṃtaśca tripurādhipatejasi | bhasmasādabhavansadyaśśalabhā iva pāvake

Translation

Étant arrivés et s’étant engouffrés dans l’éclat brûlant du Seigneur qui régnait sur Tripura, ils furent aussitôt réduits en cendres, tels des papillons de nuit se jetant dans la flamme.

Word by Word

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having gone’

• तत्: there/that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to that place/there)

• प्रविशन्तः: entering
• प्रविशन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद-भावः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• त्रिपुर-अधिप-तेजसि: in/into the splendor (fiery power) of the lord of Tripura
• त्रिपुर-अधिप-तेजसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तेजस्), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—त्रिपुराधिप (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: त्रिपुरस्य अधिपः) + तेजसि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अधिपस्य तेजसि)

• भस्म-सात्: to ashes
• भस्म-सात्: Gati (गति/परिणाम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सात् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय-प्रयोगः—‘भस्मसात्’ = to ashes, into ash-state

• अभवन्: became
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: immediately)

• शलभाः: moths
• शलभाः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (particle of comparison)

• पावके: in the fire
• पावके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Localized pralaya-like incineration by overwhelming tejas (fire-radiance)

Characters & Entities

• Tripurādhipa (the lord of Tripura / Tripurāsuras)

FAQs

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

It portrays the irresistible power of divine tejas: when limited beings rush into destructive desire and confront Śiva’s purifying radiance, their pride and bondage are burned instantly—symbolized by becoming bhasma.

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

Śiva’s saguna manifestation as blazing tejas is the same purifying presence worshipped in the Liṅga; approaching Him with surrender leads to purification, while approaching with hostility leads to self-destruction, like moths in fire.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate bhasma as a reminder of impermanence and ego-dissolution, and practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner surrender to Śiva’s purifying fire.