Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

ऋते तु खंडपरशोः कालकालाद्धरेस्तथा । तौ धर्माधर्मपरमावव्यक्तौ व्यक्तरूपिणौ

Transliteration

ṛte tu khaṃḍaparaśoḥ kālakālāddharestathā | tau dharmādharmaparamāvavyaktau vyaktarūpiṇau

Translation

ഖണ്ഡപരശുവിനെയും കാലനും കാലാതീതനായ ഹരിയെയും ഒഴിച്ചാൽ, ധർമ്മവും അധർമ്മവും എന്ന ആ രണ്ടു പരമതത്ത്വങ്ങൾ പരമാവസ്ഥയിൽ അവ്യക്തമാണ്; എന്നാൽ ലോകത്തിൽ വ്യക്തരൂപങ്ങളായി പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ऋते: except, without
• ऋते: Apadana (अपादान/Exclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवादार्थक अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: except/without)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• खण्ड-परशोः: of Khaṇḍaparaśu (Paraśurāma)
• खण्ड-परशोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + परशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘खण्डः परशुः’ (the axe that cuts; name/epithet)

• काल-कालात्: from Kālakāla (Death of Death / Time as Death)
• काल-कालात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘कालः (एव) कालः’ (Time who is Death; epithet of Yama/Death)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), द्विवचन (Dual)

• धर्म-अधर्म-परमौ: supreme with respect to dharma and adharma
• धर्म-अधर्म-परमौ: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara) ‘धर्मः च अधर्मः च’ + परम (superlative/‘supreme’)—अर्थः ‘धर्माधर्मयोः परमौ’ (supreme in dharma and adharma / beyond both)

• अव्यक्तौ: unmanifest
• अव्यक्तौ: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• व्यक्त-रूपिणौ: having manifest forms
• व्यक्त-रूपिणौ: Karta (कर्ता) के विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘व्यक्तं रूपं यस्य’ (having manifest form)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kāla-tattva reflection (time and beyond-time)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Khaṇḍaparaśu

FAQs

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

It teaches that Dharma and Adharma are subtle cosmic principles: in their highest state they are unmanifest, yet they operate through visible, embodied expressions in worldly life—guiding bondage and liberation under the Lord’s governance.

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

Just as Dharma/Adharma are unseen in essence but known by their effects, Shiva as Nirguṇa is beyond perception, yet is worshipped as Saguṇa through the Liṅga—where the transcendent is approached through a manifest support.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Kāla (time) as a power governed by the Supreme, and steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” aligning one’s actions with Dharma and offering their fruits to Śiva.