Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

अविरुद्धं तु देवानां रक्षितं शंभुतेजसा । विपत्कालेपि सद्भक्तं महेशशरणागतम्

Transliteration

aviruddhaṃ tu devānāṃ rakṣitaṃ śaṃbhutejasā | vipatkālepi sadbhaktaṃ maheśaśaraṇāgatam

Translation

たとえ神々が公然と争わぬときであっても、シャンブ（Śambhu）の輝ける威光（テージャス）によって守護される。まして災厄の時には、マヘーシャ（Maheśa）に帰依し避難した真の信者は、必ず護られる。

Word by Word

• अविरुद्धम्: unopposed; unhindered
• अविरुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-viruddha (प्रातिपदिक; √rudh/√rudhir? as PPP from √rudh 'to obstruct')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg adjective)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थ-व्यतिरेक (particle: but/indeed)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• रक्षितम्: protected
• रक्षितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rakṣ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शम्भु-तेजसा: by Śambhu’s splendor/power
• शम्भु-तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शम्भोः तेजसा); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• विपत्-काले: in time of calamity
• विपत्-काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipad (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विपदः काले); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: even/also)

• सत्-भक्तम्: a true devotee
• सत्-भक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √bhaj)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सद्भक्तः = सत् भक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• महेश-शरण-आगतम्: one who has come to Mahesha for refuge
• महेश-शरण-आगतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक) + śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āgata (कृदन्त from √gam with ā-)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपपद-समास: महेशस्य शरणम् आगतः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सद्भक्तम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General Śiva-kṣema doctrine: Śambhu’s tejas protects devas and, more pointedly, the śaraṇāgata-bhakta in vipat. This aligns with Purāṇic ‘śaraṇāgati’ themes rather than a single sthala.

Significance: Assures devotees that refuge (śaraṇāgati) in Maheśa is itself a protective sādhana; encourages pilgrimage/vrata with the confidence of divine guardianship.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati—the supreme protector—whose tejas upholds cosmic order and personally shelters the sadbhakta who practices śaraṇāgati, teaching that surrender to Maheśa is a direct refuge amid worldly संकट.

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

Taking refuge in Maheśa is commonly enacted through Saguna worship—especially Śiva-liṅga upāsanā—where the devotee approaches Śambhu as the accessible Lord whose grace and protective power are invoked through pūjā, mantra, and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati with japa—steadily repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and offering simple liṅga-pūjā (water, bilva) during distress, trusting Śambhu’s protection.