Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

अथ सज्यं धनुः कृत्वा शर्वस्संधाय तं शरम् । पूज्य पाशुपतास्त्रं स त्रिपुरं समचिंतयत्

Transliteration

atha sajyaṃ dhanuḥ kṛtvā śarvassaṃdhāya taṃ śaram | pūjya pāśupatāstraṃ sa tripuraṃ samaciṃtayat

Translation

แล้วพระศรฺวะ (พระศิวะ) ทรงขึ้นสายธนูและวางศรนั้นให้พร้อม; ทรงบูชาอาวุธปาศุปตะ แล้วทรงตั้งพระดำริเพื่อทำลายตรีปุระ।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Avyaya-function (क्रम/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Sequential particle: 'then/now')

• सज्यम्: strung; with string fitted
• सज्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying dhanuḥ)

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); 'having done/made'

• शर्वः: Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संधाय: having fixed/aimed
• संधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा (धातु) → संधाय (ल्यबन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/ल्यबन्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; 'having fixed/placed/aimed'

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूज्य: having worshipped
• पूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्यय (Gerundive/Obligative used as absolutive sense here by context), अव्ययार्थे (contextual: 'having worshipped')

• पाशुपत-अस्त्रम्: the Pāśupata weapon
• पाशुपत-अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative: 'Pāśupata weapon'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• त्रिपुरम्: Tripura
• त्रिपुरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समचिन्तयत्: he contemplated; considered
• समचिन्तयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle episode to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse foregrounds the Pāśupata-astra: Śiva ‘worships/invokes’ his own supreme weapon before acting, emphasizing īśvara’s sovereign, ritualized will rather than mere force.

Significance: Models ‘kriyā with jñāna’: even the Lord’s destructive act is preceded by sanctified invocation, teaching devotees to align action with mantra/intent.

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Tripura
• Pāśupata Astra

FAQs

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

It shows that Śiva’s victory is not mere force: the bow, arrow, and even the Astra are sanctified through worship, indicating that divine action proceeds from sacred intention (saṅkalpa) and the Lord’s grace as Pati who removes bondage.

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

Śiva appears here as Saguna—the personal Lord (Śarva) who can be approached, worshipped, and invoked. The same devotional principle applies to Liṅga worship: reverent pūjā awakens the devotee’s alignment with Śiva’s will and purifies the means of action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is pūjā before undertaking any decisive act: begin with mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and mental concentration (dhyāna) to steady the mind, treating one’s instruments and actions as offerings to Śiva.