Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

महाभयंकरं रौद्रं प्रज्वलंतं दिशो दश । कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं प्रलयानलसन्निभम्

Transliteration

mahābhayaṃkaraṃ raudraṃ prajvalaṃtaṃ diśo daśa | koṭisūryapratīkāśaṃ pralayānalasannibham

Translation

ມັນນ່າຢ້ານຢ່າງຫຼວງ ແລະດຸຮ້າຍດ້ວຍຄວາມພິໂຣດ ລຸກໄໝ້ສ່ອງສະຫວ່າງເຕັມທັງສິບທິດ; ສະຫວ່າງດັ່ງດວງອາທິດນັບໂກດິ ແລະຄ້າຍໄຟແຫ່ງປະລະຍະໃນວາລະສິ້ນການ.

Word by Word

• महाभयंकरम्: very terrifying
• महाभयंकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + भयंकर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) रुद्रम्; कर्मधारयः ('महान् भयंकरः')

• रौद्रम्: fierce
• रौद्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) रुद्रम्

• प्रज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• प्रज्वलन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) रुद्रम्

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दश: ten
• दश: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्या-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), द्वितीया, बहुवचनानुगुण (agreeing with 'दिशः')

• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशम्: shining like ten million suns
• कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + सूर्य + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) रुद्रम्; तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'कोटि-सूर्यवत् प्रतीकाशः')

• प्रलयानलसन्निभम्: like the fire of dissolution
• प्रलयानलसन्निभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलय + अनल + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) रुद्रम्; तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'प्रलय-अनल-सदृशः')

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga; imagery aligns with pralaya-theophany where Śiva manifests as the cosmic fire that ends a cycle, underscoring his role as kāla (time) and niyantṛ (controller).

Significance: Contemplation of pralaya-anala imagery is used devotionally to cultivate vairāgya and surrender, recognizing all worldly supports as impermanent before Śiva.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya (cosmic dissolution) imagery: pralayānala, end-of-cycle conflagration

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Rudra’s overwhelming tejas as the divine power that dissolves impurity and ego—what appears fearsome to the bound soul (paśu) is, in Shaiva Siddhanta, the purifying force of Pati that burns pāśa (bondage) like pralaya-fire.

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

It emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva with attributes—whose radiance and terrible majesty protect dharma and destroy adharma; Linga worship trains the devotee to behold that same supreme Reality in a stable, auspicious form, transforming fear into reverent surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s fiery tejas while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and adopt Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that all impurity is to be burned away in Shiva-consciousness.