Shloka 71

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

तं देवमीशं त्रिपुरं निहन्तुं तदा तु देवेन्द्ररविप्रकाशाः गजैर्हयैः सिंहवरै रथैश् च वृषैर्ययुस्ते गणराजमुख्याः

Transliteration

taṃ devamīśaṃ tripuraṃ nihantuṃ tadā tu devendraraviprakāśāḥ gajairhayaiḥ siṃhavarai rathaiś ca vṛṣairyayuste gaṇarājamukhyāḥ

Translation

Bấy giờ, để diệt Tripura, các thủ lĩnh tối thượng của đoàn Gaṇa của Śiva—rạng ngời như Indra và Mặt Trời—tiến về nơi Chúa Tể, Đấng Īśa tối thượng. Họ cưỡi voi, ngựa, sư tử thượng hạng, xe chiến và cả bò mộng (Vṛṣabha).

Word by Word

• tam: that

• devam: divine Lord

• īśam: the Supreme Ruler (Īśa/Śiva)

• tripuram: Tripura (the triple citadel / the Tripura-asuras’ stronghold)

• nihantum: to destroy, to slay

• tadā tu: then indeed

• devendra: Indra

• ravi: the Sun

• prakāśāḥ: radiant, shining

• gajaiḥ: with elephants

• hayaiḥ: with horses

• siṁha-varaiḥ: with excellent lions

• rathaiḥ ca: and with chariots

• vṛṣaiḥ: with bulls

• yayuḥ: went forth, marched

• te: they

• gaṇa-rāja-mukhyāḥ: the foremost among the leaders of the Gaṇas (Śiva’s hosts).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Tripura
• Indra
• Surya
• Shiva's Ganas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Śiva as Īśa (Pati), the supreme Lord whom even the mighty Gaṇas approach in service; Linga-worship similarly orients the devotee (paśu) toward the Lord as the sole refuge and commander of all cosmic forces.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is presented as Īśa—the sovereign reality who empowers and directs divine hosts; Tripura’s destruction signifies the Lord’s mastery over the threefold structures that bind beings (pāśa), affirming Śiva as transcendent yet immanent ruler.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No explicit rite is detailed, but the verse highlights sevā-bhāva (devotional service) and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) toward Pati—key dispositions in Shaiva practice that support Pāśupata discipline and Linga-pūjā.