Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

त्रिपुरदाहानन्तरं देवभयः ब्रह्मस्तुतिश्च — Fear of the Gods after Tripura’s Burning and Brahmā’s Praise

Devanagari script

अथ ब्रह्मा स्वयं देवं त्रिपुरारिं महेश्वरम् । तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा नतस्कंधः कृतांजलिः

Transliteration

atha brahmā svayaṃ devaṃ tripurāriṃ maheśvaram | tuṣṭāva praṇato bhūtvā nataskaṃdhaḥ kṛtāṃjaliḥ

Translation

Lalu Brahmā sendiri memuji Tuhan Ilahi Mahādeva—Maheśvara, musuh Tripura. Ia bersujud hormat, bahu menunduk, kedua tangan beranjali, melantunkan pujian.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक निपात

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता; emphatic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनिश्चयार्थक (reflexive/emphatic adverb: himself)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिपुर-अरिम्: enemy of Tripura
• त्रिपुर-अरिम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: त्रिपुरस्य अरिः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• महेश्वरम्: the Great Lord
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु; ‘तुष्टाव’ इति लिट्-रूप)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘praised’

• प्रणतः: bowed
• प्रणतः: Karta (कर्ता; state of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ब्रह्मा इति विशेषण; ‘bowed down’

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); ‘having become/being’

• नत-स्कन्धः: with bowed shoulders/neck
• नत-स्कन्धः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक; √नम् से क्त) + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘नतः स्कन्धः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ब्रह्मा इति विशेषण

• कृत-अञ्जलिः: with hands joined (in reverence)
• कृत-अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ से क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘कृतः अञ्जलिः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ब्रह्मा इति विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the episode; within the scene Brahmā offers praise to Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Tripura

FAQs

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

It shows that even Brahmā approaches Śiva with humility and bhakti—affirming Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) who is worthy of stuti, praṇāma, and surrender, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on grace through devotion.

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

The verse models Saguna-upāsanā: approaching the personal Lord (Maheśvara/Tripurāri) with folded hands and praise. This same attitude is prescribed in Liṅga worship—external reverence expressing inner surrender to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice praṇāma and añjali before Śiva (Liṅga or image), then recite a stuti or the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a bowed, humble posture—making the body’s gesture align with the mind’s devotion.