Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

त्रिपुरदाहवर्णनम् | Tripura-dāha-varṇanam

Description of the Burning of Tripura

Devanagari script

तारकाक्षस्तु निर्दग्धो भ्रातृभ्यां सहितोऽभवत् । सस्मार स्वप्रभुं देवं शंकरं भक्तवत्सलम्

Transliteration

tārakākṣastu nirdagdho bhrātṛbhyāṃ sahito'bhavat | sasmāra svaprabhuṃ devaṃ śaṃkaraṃ bhaktavatsalam

Translation

Tārakākṣa, bị thiêu cháy và quật ngã cùng với các huynh đệ, liền nhớ đến Chúa của mình—Śaṅkara thiêng liêng, Đấng luôn trìu mến những người sùng tín.

Word by Word

• तारकाक्षः: Tārakākṣa
• तारकाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारकाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• निर्दग्धः: burnt up
• निर्दग्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + दह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भ्रातृभ्याम्: with (his) two brothers
• भ्रातृभ्याम्: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• सहितः: accompanied, together with
• सहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) / ‘सहित’ (प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participial adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सह’ अर्थे (meaning ‘accompanied’)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सस्मार: remembered
• सस्मार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वप्रभुम्: his own lord
• स्वप्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (possessive/determinative: ‘one’s own lord’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भक्तवत्सलम्: fond of devotees
• भक्तवत्सलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त-वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘affectionate to devotees’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of शंकरम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga scene. The key turn is theological: even a fallen asura, when scorched by divine justice, can pivot to smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śaṅkara—opening the possibility of grace (anugraha).

Significance: Teaches the Siddhānta arc from pāśa-bound suffering to Pati-remembrance: smaraṇa and śaraṇāgati can arise even at the edge of destruction, hinting at Śiva’s bhakta-vātsalya.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śaṃkaraṃ bhaktavatsalam (epithet used as praise)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Tārakākṣa
• Śaṅkara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

Even amid defeat and suffering, the turning of consciousness toward Śiva (smaraṇa) is shown as a saving spiritual impulse—Śaṅkara is bhaktavatsala, responsive to sincere devotion, and remembrance becomes a doorway to grace.

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

The verse emphasizes personal reliance on Śaṅkara as “svaprabhu” (one’s own Lord), aligning with Saguna devotion where the devotee approaches Śiva as the compassionate, accessible deity—often worshipped through the Śiva-liṅga as His merciful presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily smaraṇa of Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” especially in distress; support it with simple Śiva-upāsanā such as vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and focused remembrance of Śaṅkara’s compassion.