Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

त्रिपुरमोहनम्

Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”

Devanagari script

एकस्यां च तनौ जाता एकस्माद्यदि वा क्वचित् । चत्वारस्तनयास्तत्किं भिन्नवर्णत्वमाप्नुयुः

Transliteration

ekasyāṃ ca tanau jātā ekasmādyadi vā kvacit | catvārastanayāstatkiṃ bhinnavarṇatvamāpnuyuḥ

Translation

หากจากกายเดียวและแหล่งเดียวกันมีบุตรชายสี่คนเกิดขึ้น แล้วเขาจะมีวรรณะหรือสีสันรูปลักษณ์แตกต่างกันได้อย่างไร

Word by Word

• एकस्याम्: in one (female/body)
• एकस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तनौ: in the body
• तनौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जाता: born
• जाता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• एकस्मात्: from one (source)
• एकस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• क्वचित्: somewhere/at some time
• क्वचित्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (indefinite adverb)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• तनयाः: sons/children
• तनयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तत्: then/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• किम्: why?/how?
• किम्: Prayojana/Question (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• भिन्न-वर्णत्वम्: difference of varṇa/status
• भिन्न-वर्णत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद् धातु) + वर्णत्व (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ण + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भिन्नं वर्णत्वं’ = भिन्नवर्णत्वम्

• आप्नुयुः: would attain
• आप्नुयुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Yuddha-khaṇḍa dialogue to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights discernment (viveka): external differences like complexion or form do not automatically prove different origins; in Shaiva thought, the same underlying reality can manifest diverse appearances under māyā and karma.

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

The Liṅga points to the one Reality (Pati, Shiva) beyond changing attributes, while Saguna forms vary for līlā and grace; the verse’s logic supports seeing unity behind diverse manifestations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation that Shiva is the one consciousness appearing in many forms; this steadies the mind beyond surface distinctions.