Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure

Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

Devanagari script

नगरोपवने कृत्वा शिष्यैर्युक्तः स्थितितदा । मायां प्रवर्तयामास मायिनामपि मोहिनीम्

Transliteration

nagaropavane kṛtvā śiṣyairyuktaḥ sthititadā | māyāṃ pravartayāmāsa māyināmapi mohinīm

Translation

Bấy giờ, Ngài an trú trong khu vườn gần thành, có các đệ tử theo hầu, rồi khởi động một năng lực māyā mê hoặc—quyến rũ đến mức có thể làm cho cả những kẻ vốn dùng huyễn thuật cũng phải lạc mê.

Word by Word

• नगर-उपवने: in the city-garden
• नगर-उपवने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: नगरस्य उपवने)

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• शिष्यैः: with disciples
• शिष्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• युक्तः: joined/attended (accompanied)
• युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्थितः: stood/remained
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) ‘stood/was situated’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मायाम्: illusion/magic
• मायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रवर्तयामास: set in motion/caused to act
• प्रवर्तयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘set in motion/caused to operate’

• मायिनाम्: of magicians/illusionists
• मायिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• मोहिनीम्: the deluding (one)/enchantress (illusion)
• मोहिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेष्य (मायाम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

FAQs

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

It highlights the overwhelming potency of māyā—bondage can arise even for the clever—therefore liberation depends on turning to the supreme Lord (Pati) and cultivating discriminative knowledge rather than trusting mere worldly or occult power.

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

By showing that even ‘māyins’ can be deluded, the verse points to the need for refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga steadies the mind, purifies devotion, and anchors the seeker beyond shifting appearances created by māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Shiva, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha to guard the mind from delusion and distraction.