Shloka 111

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

Devanagari script

पुरत्रयं विरूपाक्षस् तत्क्षणाद्भस्म वै कृतम् सोमश् च भगवान्विष्णुः कालाग्निर्वायुरेव च

Transliteration

puratrayaṃ virūpākṣas tatkṣaṇādbhasma vai kṛtam somaś ca bhagavānviṣṇuḥ kālāgnirvāyureva ca

Translation

随即，毗卢帕克沙（Virūpākṣa）在刹那间将三城（Tripura）化为灰烬；而苏摩（Soma）、吉祥的毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）、迦罗火（Kālāgni）与风神伐由（Vāyu）亦同为此神圣之举的参与者。

Word by Word

• puratrayam: the three cities (Tripura)

• virūpākṣaḥ: Virūpākṣa (the odd-/three-eyed Lord Śiva)

• tat-kṣaṇāt: in that very moment

• bhasma: ash

• vai: indeed

• kṛtam: made, rendered

• somaḥ: Soma (Moon-god)

• ca: and

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu

• kālāgniḥ: the fire of time/dissolution

• vāyuḥ: Wind-god

• eva: indeed/also

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Virupaksha)
• Vishnu
• Soma
• Kalagni
• Vayu
• Tripura

FAQs

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

By declaring Tripura turned to bhasma “in that very instant,” the verse highlights Shiva’s sovereign power as Pati; for Linga worship, it reinforces bhasma (sacred ash) as a sign of dissolution of bondage (pāśa) and surrender of the pashu (soul) to Shiva’s transforming grace.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as the instantaneous, effortless agency that dissolves even fortified cosmic structures (Tripura). The mention of deities like Viṣṇu, Soma, Kālāgni, and Vāyu indicates that other powers operate as instruments within Shiva’s supreme lordship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly points to bhasma-dhāraṇa (wearing sacred ash) and contemplations on kāla (time) and laya (dissolution), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented practice where the yogin burns impurities and bonds through Shiva-bhakti and inner renunciation.