Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59
त्रिपुरमोहनम्
Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”
माया च देवदेवस्य विष्णोस्तस्याज्ञया प्रभो । अलक्ष्मीश्च स्वयं तस्य नियोगात्त्रिपुरं गता
māyā ca devadevasya viṣṇostasyājñayā prabho | alakṣmīśca svayaṃ tasya niyogāttripuraṃ gatā
Wahai Tuhan, menurut perintah Deva segala deva, Viṣṇu, Māyā juga pergi ke Tripura; dan Alakṣmī sendiri, yang ditugaskan olehnya, turut memasuki Tripura.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse shows that even cosmic powers like Māyā (delusion) and Alakṣmī (inauspiciousness) operate under divine ordinance, illustrating how bondage (pāśa) can be “sent” into the realm of the bound (paśu) until grace and right knowledge lead to liberation under the Lord (Pati).
In the Tripura narrative, the forces that sustain pride and obstruction are depicted as entering Tripura; Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship trains the devotee to seek Shiva’s grace to pierce Māyā and remove Alakṣmī-like obstacles, aligning the mind with auspiciousness (śiva) rather than delusion.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a prayer for removal of māyika delusion and inauspicious tendencies—cultivating discrimination (viveka) and devotion (bhakti) during worship.