Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam
Description of the Burning of Tripura
इत्येवं विब्रुवंतस्ते दानवास्तेन वह्निना । शिवाज्ञयाद्भुतं दग्धा भस्मसादभवन्मुने
ityevaṃ vibruvaṃtaste dānavāstena vahninā | śivājñayādbhutaṃ dagdhā bhasmasādabhavanmune
Assim, enquanto aqueles Dānavas falavam desse modo, foram maravilhosamente queimados por aquele fogo—posto em ação pela ordem de Śiva—e, ó sábio, foram reduzidos a cinzas.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Significance: Emphasizes Śiva’s īśvaratva (lordship): by mere ājñā (command) he activates the destructive principle; remembrance of this sovereignty is held to cut fear and arrogance.
Type: rudram
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Fire acting as an instrument of divine command anticipates pralaya imagery (destruction by cosmic fire).
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as the supreme Pati whose mere command makes cosmic forces act; arrogance and adharmic speech culminate in destruction, while the image of being reduced to bhasma signifies the end of ego and karmic obstruction under divine governance.
In Saguna worship, Śiva is revered as the personal Lord who protects dharma and directs the elements; this verse reinforces bhakti-centered surrender to Śiva’s ājñā, the same Lord worshiped in the Liṅga as the accessible form of the transcendent reality.
The verse naturally points to bhasma-bhūṣaṇa/Tripuṇḍra as a reminder that all pride ends as ash; as a practice, contemplate impermanence while applying vibhūti and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with surrender to Śiva’s will.