Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
त्रिपुरदाहानन्तरं देवभयः ब्रह्मस्तुतिश्च — Fear of the Gods after Tripura’s Burning and Brahmā’s Praise
महेश्वरेण सर्वस्मिंस्त्रिपुरे दैत्यसंकुले । दग्धे विशेषतस्तत्र विस्मितास्तेऽभवन्सुराः
maheśvareṇa sarvasmiṃstripure daityasaṃkule | dagdhe viśeṣatastatra vismitāste'bhavansurāḥ
മഹേശ്വരൻ ദൈത്യസങ്കുലമായ സമസ്ത ത്രിപുരം ദഹിപ്പിച്ചപ്പോൾ, അവിടെ ദേവന്മാർ ആ വിശേഷമായ അത്ഭുതകർമ്മം കണ്ടു അത്യന്തം വിസ്മയിച്ചു.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
Sthala Purana: Tripuradahana: at the destined conjunction, Śiva’s single act (often symbolized as one arrow) burns the three demon cities, demonstrating that cosmic dissolution is effortless for the Lord when dharma requires rebalancing.
Significance: Contemplation of Tripuradahana is taken as a reminder that Śiva alone can burn the ‘three cities’ within (triguṇa/three impurities), inspiring surrender (śaraṇāgati).
Role: destructive
FAQs
Tripura symbolizes entrenched impurity and bondage; Mahēśvara’s burning of Tripura signifies Śiva as Pati whose grace destroys pāśa (bondage) and restores dharma, leaving even the devas awestruck at His sovereign power.
The verse highlights Saguna Śiva as the active Lord who intervenes in cosmic order; in Linga worship, devotees remember this protective, purifying power—Śiva as the visible focus of devotion who removes inner ‘demonic’ tendencies and grants auspiciousness.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as the remover of bondage while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma with devotion, praying for the burning of inner impurities (mala) like Tripura.