Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32
त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam
Description of the Burning of Tripura
तारकाक्ष उवाच । भव ज्ञातोसि तुष्टोऽसि यद्यस्मान् सह बंधुभिः । तेन सत्येन भूयोऽपि कदा त्वं प्रदहिष्यसि
tārakākṣa uvāca | bhava jñātosi tuṣṭo'si yadyasmān saha baṃdhubhiḥ | tena satyena bhūyo'pi kadā tvaṃ pradahiṣyasi
താരകാക്ഷൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ഭവാ (ശിവാ), ഞങ്ങളെ ബന്ധുക്കളോടുകൂടി തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞ് നീ സന്തുഷ്ടനായാൽ, ആ സത്യത്തിന്റെ ബലത്തിൽ പറയുക—നീ ഞങ്ങളെ വീണ്ടും എപ്പോൾ ദഹിപ്പിക്കും?
Tārakākṣa
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative. The verse is a paradoxical petition: the asura addresses Bhava, questioning whether Śiva’s ‘pleasure/recognition’ is real, and asks when Śiva will ‘burn’ them again—suggesting the soul’s confusion under tirodhāna (concealment) even while turning toward the Lord.
Significance: Highlights a Siddhānta theme: under tirodhāna, the bound being misreads divine action (punishment vs purification). The verse can be read as an inadvertent plea for the ‘burning’ of impurities (mala) through Śiva’s transforming power.
Mantra: bhava (address to Śiva)
Type: stotra
FAQs
It shows the asuric mindset—mistaking Śiva’s awareness and composure for approval—while Śiva as Bhava remains the impartial Lord who ultimately burns impurity and ego (mala) that oppose dharma.
Addressing Śiva as “Bhava” points to Saguna Śiva who engages the world to protect cosmic order; the same Lord is worshipped in the Liṅga as the steady, all-knowing Pati who dissolves negativity when devotees seek refuge.
A practical takeaway is to replace confrontational pride with śaraṇāgati (surrender) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s purifying fire.