Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

उपर्युपर्यदृष्टेषु व्योम्नि लीलाभ्रसंस्थिते । वर्षत्सु कालमेघेषु पुष्करावर्तनामसु

Transliteration

uparyuparyadṛṣṭeṣu vyomni līlābhrasaṃsthite | varṣatsu kālamegheṣu puṣkarāvartanāmasu

Translation

Di tempat yang tinggi di langit, gumpalan awan yang seolah-olah bermain telah berkumpul; lalu awan hujan gelap yang dikenali sebagai Puṣkarāvarta mula mencurahkan hujan. Pemandangan itu tampak sebagai suatu alamat, mendahului perubahan ganas dalam pertempuran yang bakal tiba.

Word by Word

• upari-upari: above and above; repeatedly upward
• upari-upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) used in repetition (पुनरुक्त)

• adṛṣṭeṣu: in the unseen (regions/things)
• adṛṣṭeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś दर्श्)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन), Neuter/Masculine (नपुंसक/पुं) as adjective; past passive participle (क्त) with privative a-

• vyomni: in the sky
• vyomni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• līlā-bhra-saṃsthite: in (the sky) situated as playful clouds
• līlā-bhra-saṃsthite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhra (प्रातिपदिक; ‘cloud’) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त; √sthā स्था)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) agreeing with vyomni; compound: līlā-bhra (तत्पुरुष) + saṃsthita (क्त, ‘situated’)

• varṣatsu: while raining; in the raining (clouds)
• varṣatsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varṣat (कृदन्त; √vṛṣ वृष्)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं); present participle (शतृ) used adjectivally

• kāla-megheṣu: in the dark clouds
• kāla-megheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: kāla-megha = ‘time/doom-dark cloud’

• puṣkara-āvarta-nāmasu: in those named ‘Puṣkarāvarta’
• puṣkara-āvarta-nāmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक) + āvarta (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used adjectivally; tatpuruṣa: puṣkara-āvarta-nāman = ‘having the name Puṣkarāvarta’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Puṣkarāvarta storm-clouds pour torrential rain as an ominous prelude to battle.

FAQs

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

The verse frames nature as reflecting the unfolding of divine order (Śiva’s niyati): ominous clouds and torrential rain signal an imminent shift in karma and conflict, reminding devotees to take refuge in Śiva amid worldly turbulence.

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

In Shaiva practice, external upheavals are met by turning to Saguna Śiva through Linga-worship—steadying the mind with devotion, mantra, and ritual, even as the world shows fearful signs.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and perform Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa for inner protection and composure when signs feel adverse.