Shloka 41
भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3
दैत्याश्च ते हि धर्मिष्ठास्सर्वे त्रिपुरवासिनः । तस्मादवध्यतां प्राप्ता नान्यथा सुरपुंगवाः
daityāśca te hi dharmiṣṭhāssarve tripuravāsinaḥ | tasmādavadhyatāṃ prāptā nānyathā surapuṃgavāḥ
ആ ദൈത്യന്മാരും ത്രിപുരവാസികളും എല്ലാവരും ധർമ്മിഷ്ഠരാണ്. ഹേ ദേവശ്രേഷ്ഠന്മാരേ! അതുകൊണ്ടാണ് അവർ അവധ്യരായിരിക്കുന്നത്, മറ്റൊന്നുമല്ല.
A Deva counsellor addressing Indra and the Devas during the Tripura conflict (as narrated by Suta Goswami)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames why Tripura’s residents are ‘avadhya’—their dhārmika conduct functions as a protective merit that even Devas must reckon with before Śiva’s intervention as Tripurāntaka.
Significance: Highlights the Purāṇic axiom that dharma itself becomes a protective ‘kavaca’; victory over adharmic forces requires addressing the root bondage (pāśa) rather than mere force.
FAQs
It highlights that even beings opposed to the Devas can gain formidable protection through adherence to dharma and the force of boons—showing the limitation of mere celestial power and the need for Shiva (Pati) to resolve cosmic imbalance.
The Devas’ inability to overcome Tripura points toward dependence on Saguna Shiva’s compassionate intervention; in Shiva Purana theology, the Linga signifies Shiva as the ultimate refuge who transcends and governs all boons and powers.
A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s anugraha (grace) through japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with bhakti and purity, acknowledging that dharma and grace, not force alone, remove obstacles.