Shloka 39
भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3
कथं तेषां च दैत्यानां बलाद्धत्वा पुरत्रयम् । देवकार्यं करिष्यामीत्यासीच्चिंतासमाकुलः
kathaṃ teṣāṃ ca daityānāṃ balāddhatvā puratrayam | devakāryaṃ kariṣyāmītyāsīcciṃtāsamākulaḥ
Dia diliputi kebimbangan, berfikir: “Bagaimanakah aku dapat dengan kekuatan memusnahkan kota tiga serangkai milik para Daitya yang perkasa itu, lalu menyempurnakan tugas para dewa?”
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
Sthala Purana: Tripura motif: the ‘three cities’ symbolize fortified bondage; their burning is ultimately accomplished through Śiva as Tripurāntaka, not by deva-force alone.
Cosmic Event: Tripura (threefold fortress) as a cosmic-ethical crisis requiring divine dissolution
FAQs
The verse highlights the limitation of mere “force” (balāt) when confronting great obstacles; Shaiva Siddhanta reads this as a cue that divine work succeeds through Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and right alignment, not anxiety-driven effort.
Tripura’s conquest is ultimately Shiva’s līlā in a manifest (saguṇa) form; devotion to the Linga trains the mind to shift from self-reliant strain to Shiva-centered surrender, through which the devas’ purpose is fulfilled.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with calm breath and offering of bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder to release fear and rely on Shiva’s guidance rather than raw force.