Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 61

त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure

Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

Devanagari script

दीक्षां गृह्णीष्व दैत्येन्द्र सर्वधर्मोत्तमोत्तमाम् । ददौ दीक्षाविधानेन प्राप्स्यसि त्वं कृतार्थताम्

Transliteration

dīkṣāṃ gṛhṇīṣva daityendra sarvadharmottamottamām | dadau dīkṣāvidhānena prāpsyasi tvaṃ kṛtārthatām

Translation

ഹേ ദൈത്യേന്ദ്രാ! സർവ്വധർമ്മങ്ങളിലുമേറ്റവും ഉത്തമമായ ഈ ദീക്ഷ സ്വീകരിക്ക. ദീക്ഷാവിധാനപ്രകാരം നിനക്കു ദീക്ഷ നൽകിയാൽ നീ കൃതാർത്ഥത (ജീവിതലക്ഷ്യസാഫല്യം) പ്രാപിക്കും.

Word by Word

• dīkṣām: initiation (dīkṣā)
• dīkṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gṛhṇīṣva: accept/take
• gṛhṇīṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• daitya-indra: O lord of the demons
• daitya-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; tatpuruṣa: daityānām indraḥ ("lord of demons")

• sarva-dharma-uttama-uttamām: the best of the best among all dharmas
• sarva-dharma-uttama-uttamām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies dīkṣām; tatpuruṣa chain: sarveṣāṃ dharmāṇāṃ uttamāt uttamā ("best of the best among all dharmas")

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• dīkṣā-vidhānena: by the initiation procedure
• dīkṣā-vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: dīkṣāyā vidhānam ("procedure of initiation")

• prāpsyasi: you will attain
• prāpsyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√āp (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kṛta-arthatām: fulfillment/success
• kṛta-arthatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ/कृ) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + -tā (तद्धित/भाव)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; abstract noun; tatpuruṣa: kṛto 'rthaḥ yasya (sense "fulfilled") → kṛtārthatā ("state of fulfillment")

Speaker

Lord Śiva (as the initiator bestowing dīkṣā in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse elevates Śaiva dīkṣā as the highest dharma: by receiving Shiva’s consecration through proper rite, the bound soul (paśu) is oriented toward Shiva (Pati) and gains true life-fulfillment—movement toward liberation through grace and disciplined practice.

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

Dīkṣā typically establishes the seeker in Saguna Shiva worship—often through mantra and regulated pūjā (commonly centered on the Liṅga). The verse implies that correct initiation authorizes and empowers this worship so it becomes spiritually effective, not merely external.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to receiving formal dīkṣā “by proper procedure,” which in Śaiva practice includes mantra-upadeśa (often the Pañcākṣarī), daily disciplined worship, and meditative recollection of Shiva; it also supports allied observances like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where prescribed by the tradition.