Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

अग्निष्टोमीयमिति या भ्रामिका साऽसतामिह । न सा प्रमाणं ज्ञातॄणां पश्वालंभनकारिका

Transliteration

agniṣṭomīyamiti yā bhrāmikā sā'satāmiha | na sā pramāṇaṃ jñātṝṇāṃ paśvālaṃbhanakārikā

Translation

இங்கே “இது அக்னிஷ்டோமீய கர்மம்” என்ற எண்ணம் பொய்மனத்தார்க்கு உரிய மயக்கமே. விவேகமுள்ள அறிஞர்க்கு அது பிரமாணமல்ல; விலங்கு பலியையும் நியாயப்படுத்துவதுமல்ல.

Word by Word

• अग्निष्टोमीयम्: (the rite/text) called ‘Agniṣṭomīya’
• अग्निष्टोमीयम्: Karma (कर्म) / Uddeshya (उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निष्टोमीय (प्रातिपदिक) < अग्निष्टोम (प्रातिपदिक) + -ईय (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (ईय)

• इति: thus; ‘so called’
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः; अव्यय, उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भ्रामिका: delusion; misleading notion
• भ्रामिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रामिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• असताम्: of the wicked/untrue people
• असताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; ‘असत्’ = दुष्ट/असज्जन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• सा: that (notion)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• प्रमाणम्: valid authority; proof
• प्रमाणम्: Pradhana (प्रधान) / Predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• ज्ञातॄणाम्: of the knowers/wise
• ज्ञातॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• पशु-आलम्भन-कारिका: one that promotes animal-sacrifice
• पशु-आलम्भन-कारिका: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + आलम्भन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पश्वालम्भनस्य कारिका)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, conveying the Yuddhakhaṇḍa’s doctrinal stance)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns against bhrānti (delusion) that weaponizes Vedic labels to justify harm; pilgrimage/vrata ethics in Śaiva contexts stress purity and compassion as safeguards against tirodhāna (concealing power) manifesting as misinterpretation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual discernment (jñāna) rejects delusive justifications for harm; dharma aligned with Shiva’s grace favors purity of intention and non-violence over confused ritual labels.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes inner purification, devotion, and right understanding; this verse reinforces that Shaiva practice is not validated by harmful ritual claims but by sattvic conduct and clarity of knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt ahimsa as a vow, and support worship through sattvic Shaiva observances—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined purity—rather than rites used to justify violence.