Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

तप उग्रं समास्थाय नियमे परमे स्थिता । तपसा कर्षयामासुर्देहान् स्वान् दानवोत्तमाः

Transliteration

tapa ugraṃ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitā | tapasā karṣayāmāsurdehān svān dānavottamāḥ

Translation

ಉಗ್ರ ತಪಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಂಡು ಮತ್ತು ಪರಮ ನಿಯಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿತರಾಗಿ, ಆ ದಾನವ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠರು ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ತಮ್ಮ ದೇಹಗಳನ್ನು ದಂಡಿಸಿದರು.

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उग्रम्: fierce, severe
• उग्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; adjective agreeing with तपः; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समास्थाय: having undertaken
• समास्थाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त) / Absolutive (Gerund); having undertaken/entered upon

• नियमे: in observance/discipline
• नियमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• परमे: supreme, highest
• परमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; agreeing with नियमे; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थिताः: standing/remaining
• स्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (भूतकृदन्त/PPP), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; Past passive participle used predicatively; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कर्षयामासुः: they emaciated/drew away
• कर्षयामासुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिप्रास/परफेक्ट) 3 पुरुष बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; Perfect, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada

• देहान्: bodies
• देहान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• स्वान्: their own
• स्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; agreeing with देहान्; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दानवोत्तमाः: the best of the Dānavas
• दानवोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दानवानाम् उत्तमाः) / genitive-determinative; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Dānavas

FAQs

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

It highlights that austerity (tapas) and discipline (niyama) can generate great power, but without right orientation toward Shiva (Pati) and liberation, such tapas may remain body-centered and binding rather than purifying.

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

The verse contrasts sheer ascetic intensity with devotion: Shaiva practice culminates in surrender to Saguna Shiva (often through Linga-worship) and inner purification, not merely self-mortification to gain worldly or combative power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is disciplined sādhana—niyama with Shiva-oriented japa (e.g., the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regulated living—rather than harsh bodily emaciation pursued for dominance.