Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

विरूपं गिरिशं भीमं स्रग्विणं रक्तवाससम् । योगिनं कालदहनं त्रिपुरघ्नं कपालिनम्

Transliteration

virūpaṃ giriśaṃ bhīmaṃ sragviṇaṃ raktavāsasam | yoginaṃ kāladahanaṃ tripuraghnaṃ kapālinam

Translation

അവർ ഗിരീശ്വരനായ ശിവനെ ദർശിച്ചു—വിചിത്രരൂപനും ഭീമനും; മാലാധാരിയും രക്തവസ്ത്രധാരിയും. അദ്ദേഹം മഹായോഗി, കാലദഹനൻ, ത്രിപുരഘ്നൻ, കപാലി।

Word by Word

• विरूपम्: the wondrous/variform one
• विरूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण/नामरूपेण

• गिरिशम्: Lord of the mountains
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरिणाम् ईशः)

• भीमम्: terrible/awesome
• भीमम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्रग्विणम्: garlanded one
• स्रग्विणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज्/स्रग् + विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor noun: ‘having a garland’)

• रक्तवाससम्: one whose garment is red
• रक्तवाससम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (रक्तं वासः यस्य)

• योगिनम्: the yogin
• योगिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• कालदहनम्: burner/destroyer of Time (Death)
• कालदहनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य दहनः)

• त्रिपुरघ्नम्: slayer of Tripura
• त्रिपुरघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + पुर + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रिपुरं हन्ति इति)

• कपालिनम्: skull-bearer
• कपालिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor noun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurantaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Tripura-vadha is a cosmic saṃhāra paradigm (destruction of demonic fortresses) rather than a localized Jyotirliṅga origin in this verse; it signals Śiva’s role as remover of adharmic structures.

Significance: Meditation on Tripurāntaka is held to destroy inner ‘three cities’ (egoic triads) and fear of death/time (kāla).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: विरूपं गिरिशं भीमं स्रग्विणं रक्तवाससम् । योगिनं कालदहनं त्रिपुरघ्नं कपालिनम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic cosmic battle motif: burning of Tripura; Kāla-dahana imagery (overcoming Time/Death).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse lists sacred epithets that reveal Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord): the ascetic Yogi beyond worldly fear, who destroys death/time and annihilates demonic bondage (Tripura), guiding devotees toward liberation.

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

These names describe Saguna Śiva—His visible, approachable attributes used for upāsanā. In Linga-worship, devotees contemplate these qualities while offering bilva, water, and mantra, recognizing the Linga as the sign of the same transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while meditating on Śiva as Yogin and Tripuraghna; optionally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness, humility, and death-transcending awareness.