Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

एवं तेषां गतः कालो महान् सुतपतां मुने । ब्रह्मात्मनां तारकाणां धर्मेणेति मतिर्मम

Transliteration

evaṃ teṣāṃ gataḥ kālo mahān sutapatāṃ mune | brahmātmanāṃ tārakāṇāṃ dharmeṇeti matirmama

Translation

О мудрец, так прошёл долгий срок для тех владык сыновей. И по моему разумению, Тараки — чья природа была связана с силой Брахмы — поддерживались и направлялись своим предписанным дхармой.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन (plural), सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग (pronoun)

• गतः: passed/elapsed
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine)

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of कालः)

• सुतपताम्: of the lords of sons (fathers)
• सुतपताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मात्मनाम्: of those whose self is Brahman
• ब्रह्मात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) ‘ब्रह्मणः आत्मा येषाम्’; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• तारकाणाम्: of the Tārakas
• तारकाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• धर्मेण: by/through dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मतिः: thought/opinion
• मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular), सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग (pronoun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Tāraka (Tarakas)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even powerful beings supported by boons or cosmic authority still move under Kāla (time) and dharma—implying that only Pati (Śiva) ultimately transcends and regulates these forces.

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

By stressing dharma and the limits of Brahmā-based power, the verse implicitly points devotees toward Śiva as the supreme governor; Linga worship centers on that transcendent-regulative reality (Pati) who restores order when dharma is disrupted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dharma-aligned japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a daily reminder that time and destiny are mastered through devotion to Śiva, not merely through worldly power.