Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

ततः पुराणि दग्धानि चतुर्जलधिमेखलाम् । गतानि युगपद्भूमिं त्रीणि दग्धानि भस्मशः

Transliteration

tataḥ purāṇi dagdhāni caturjaladhimekhalām | gatāni yugapadbhūmiṃ trīṇi dagdhāni bhasmaśaḥ

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ആ പുരാതന പുരങ്ങൾ ദഗ്ധമായി; നാലു സമുദ്രങ്ങൾ ചുറ്റിയിരുന്ന ആ മൂന്നും ഒരേ സമയം ഭൂമിയിലേക്കു വീണു പൂർണ്ണമായി ഭസ്മമായി.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/ततः (then/thereupon)

• purāṇi: cities
• purāṇi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; 'cities/fortresses' (पुर)

• dagdhāni: burnt
• dagdhāni: Pratijñā-pada (प्रतिज्ञा/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'burnt'

• catur-jaladhi-mekhalām: girdled by four oceans
• catur-jaladhi-mekhalām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्यापद) + jaladhi (प्रातिपदिक) + mekhalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्णां जलधीनां मेखला यस्याः/चतुर्जलधिमेखला); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of bhūmim)

• gatāni: went/arrived
• gatāni: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'gone/come to'

• yugapat: simultaneously
• yugapat: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yugapat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: simultaneously)

• bhūmim: to the earth/ground
• bhūmim: Karma (कर्म/Goal object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• trīṇi: three
• trīṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्यापद-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• dagdhāni: burnt
• dagdhāni: Pratijñā-pada (प्रतिज्ञा/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition)

• bhasmaśaḥ: into ashes
• bhasmaśaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhasmaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: into ashes/ash-wise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to the Tripura-dahana (destruction of the three aerial cities) narrative where Śiva, as Tripurāntaka, reduces the triple fortresses to ash in a single act.

Significance: Functions as a paradigmatic Purāṇic teaching: even seemingly invincible ‘triple’ structures (egoic triads, karmic fortresses) collapse instantly when confronted by Śiva’s saṃhāra-śakti; inspires vairāgya and refuge in Pati.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tripura-dahana (mythic cosmic battle culminating in instantaneous destruction)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva (Pati) as the power of saṃhāra who dissolves even seemingly invincible structures; what is bound by pride and pāśa (bondage) ultimately becomes bhasma, urging detachment and surrender to Shiva for liberation.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Shiva’s decisive action in history—His grace and governance over creation and dissolution—supporting Linga-worship as devotion to the visible sign of the transcendent Lord who alone can end bondage and grant auspiciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate bhasma as a reminder of impermanence and apply Tripuṇḍra with reverence while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating vairāgya (dispassion) and Shiva-bhakti.