Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां दैत्यानां च तपस्विनाम् । प्रत्युवाच शिवं स्मृत्वा स्वप्रभुं गिरिशं विधिः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | iti śrutvā vacasteṣāṃ daityānāṃ ca tapasvinām | pratyuvāca śivaṃ smṛtvā svaprabhuṃ giriśaṃ vidhiḥ

Translation

善那俱摩罗曰：既闻诸代底耶与苦行仙圣之言，毗提（梵天）便作答复——先忆念湿婆，己之主宰，吉利沙，群山之主。

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सनत् (सनत्/सनत्- ‘ancient’) + कुमार (कुमार)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक (thus)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having heard

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; collective sense)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• दैत्यानाम्: of the Daityas
• दैत्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

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

• तपस्विनाम्: of the ascetics
• तपस्विनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): having remembered

• स्वप्रभुम्: his own lord
• स्वप्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य प्रभुः)

• गिरिशम्: Lord of the mountain (Giriśa)
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरेः ईशः)

• विधिः: Brahmā (Vidhi)
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; highlights Brahmā (Vidhi) remembering Śiva as his Lord before speaking—an explicit hierarchy where even creator-god acts under Śiva’s lordship.

Significance: Models proper conduct: begin speech/action with Śiva-smaraṇa; reinforces Śiva as supreme Pati who grants clarity and right response.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma (Vidhi, Dhata)
• Daityas
• Tapasvins (ascetics/sages)
• Girisha

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Brahmā acts rightly only after remembering Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such smaraṇa aligns the bound soul (paśu) with divine grace before speech or decision.

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

Remembering Girīśa before responding reflects Saguna-upāsanā—turning the mind to Shiva’s personal form and lordship. This same orientation is cultivated in Liṅga worship, where one begins actions by invoking and recollecting Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-smaraṇa before speaking or starting any work—mentally recite the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") or offer a brief inner salutation to the Liṅga, establishing humility and devotion.