Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9
त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam
Description of the Burning of Tripura
पुराणि त्रीणि दैत्यानां तारकाणां महात्मनाम् । यथातथं हि युक्तानि केचिदित्थं वदंति ह
purāṇi trīṇi daityānāṃ tārakāṇāṃ mahātmanām | yathātathaṃ hi yuktāni keciditthaṃ vadaṃti ha
Alguns dizem assim: “As três cidades antigas daqueles Daityas de grande alma—os Tārakas—foram reunidas e dispostas de vários modos, conforme exigiam as circunstâncias.”
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
Sthala Purana: Tripura (the three aerial/fortified cities of the Daityas) is introduced as a cosmic stronghold periodically aligning; its destruction becomes possible only when conditions ripen and Śiva assumes Tripurāntaka-bhāva to dissolve the demonic bondage sustaining it.
Significance: Remembrance of Tripuradāha is taken as contemplation on the destruction of inner ‘three cities’ (ego, karmic accretions, and delusion), strengthening vairāgya and devotion to Śiva as the sole liberator.
Cosmic Event: Tripura’s three cities periodically ‘assemble/align’—a mythic-cosmic configuration prerequisite for their burning.
FAQs
It introduces the “three cities” motif as a constructed, contingent power-structure of the Daityas—implying that all compounded formations are ultimately dependent, while Shiva alone stands as the sovereign Pati who can dissolve such bindings.
The Tripura narrative culminates in Shiva as Tripurāntaka, a Saguna manifestation who protects dharma by dissolving demonic fortresses; devotion to the Liṅga mirrors this truth by turning the mind from constructed supports to the one Lord beyond them.
Contemplate the “three cities” as the triple bonds (pāśa)—ego, karma, and delusion—and practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) to seek Shiva’s grace that dissolves inner Tripura.