Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

पुरत्रयं विरूपाक्षः कर्तुं तद्भस्मसात्क्षणात् । समर्थः परमेशानो मीनातु च सतां गतिः

Transliteration

puratrayaṃ virūpākṣaḥ kartuṃ tadbhasmasātkṣaṇāt | samarthaḥ parameśāno mīnātu ca satāṃ gatiḥ

Translation

ବିରୂପାକ୍ଷ ପରମେଶାନ କ୍ଷଣମାତ୍ରେ ପୁରତ୍ରୟ (ତ୍ରିପୁର)କୁ ଭସ୍ମସାତ୍ କରିବାକୁ ସମର୍ଥ; ସତ୍ମାନଙ୍କ ଗତି ଓ ଶରଣ ଥିବା ସେହି ପରମେଶ୍ୱର ଆମକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁନ୍ତୁ।

Word by Word

• पुर-त्रयम्: the three cities
• पुर-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Numerical compound: 'three cities'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• विरूपाक्षः: Virūpākṣa (Śiva)
• विरूपाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to make; to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तुम् (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुन् (Infinitive), अव्ययभाव; 'to do/make'

• तत्: that (Tripura)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भस्मसात्: to ashes
• भस्मसात्: Gati/Result (गति/फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भस्मसात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Resultative adverb: 'to ashes')

• क्षणात्: in an instant
• क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative; time-point)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); 'in/from a moment' (ablative of time)

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परमेशानः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मीनातु: let (him) not hinder/let him not delay
• मीनातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मा (धातु; माङ्-रक्षणे/निवारणे)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; विधिलिङ्गार्थे आज्ञा/आशीः: 'let him not...'

• च: and
• च: Avyaya-function (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गतिः: refuge; course; goal
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Virūpākṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a doctrinal affirmation: Śiva can incinerate Tripura instantly, and the narrator adds a benedictive prayer for protection (mīnātu).

Significance: Encourages śaraṇāgati: the same Lord who performs saṃhāra is ‘satāṃ gatiḥ’—the refuge and final goal—granting anugraha to devotees.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: पुरत्रयं विरूपाक्षः कर्तुं तद्भस्मसात्क्षणात् । समर्थः परमेशानो मीनातु च सतां गतिः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virupaksha
• Parameshvara
• Tripura

FAQs

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

The verse proclaims Shiva as Parameśvara who can dissolve even the strongest bonds (symbolized by Tripura) instantly, and affirms him as satāṃ gatiḥ—the final refuge of those who seek dharma and liberation.

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

By praising Virūpākṣa’s immediate power and protective grace, the verse supports Saguna worship—devotion to Shiva with attributes—through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord who grants refuge and moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective remembrance (smaraṇa) and praise of Parameśvara—especially japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating Shiva as the destroyer of inner impurities (Tripura) and the giver of refuge.