Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

इत्येवं विब्रुवंतस्ते दानवास्तेन वह्निना । शिवाज्ञयाद्भुतं दग्धा भस्मसादभवन्मुने

Transliteration

ityevaṃ vibruvaṃtaste dānavāstena vahninā | śivājñayādbhutaṃ dagdhā bhasmasādabhavanmune

Translation

ดูก่อนมุนี ขณะเหล่าทานวะกล่าวเช่นนั้น พวกเขาถูกเผาอย่างน่าอัศจรรย์ด้วยไฟนั้นซึ่งเคลื่อนตามพระบัญชาของพระศิวะ และกลายเป็นเถ้าถ่าน

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• एवम्: in this manner
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• विब्रुवन्तः: speaking
• विब्रुवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-ब्रू (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘दानवाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दानवाः: demons (Dānavas)
• दानवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तेन: by that
• तेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वह्निना: by fire
• वह्निना: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिव: Śiva
• शिव: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member)

• आज्ञया: by Śiva’s command
• आज्ञया: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: शिव-आज्ञा (Śiva's command)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderfully, astonishingly
• अद्भुतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: wonderfully)

• दग्धाः: burnt
• दग्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject in passive sense)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘दानवाः’ इति विशेषण/विधेय

• भस्मसात्: to ashes
• भस्मसात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Resultative adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सात् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-आधारित)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः: भस्म-सात् (to ashes); क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

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.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Fire acting as an instrument of divine command anticipates pralaya imagery (destruction by cosmic fire).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dānavas
• Agni (Fire)

FAQs

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

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.

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

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.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

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.