Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

ययाचे कमलाक्षस्तु राजतं सुमहत्पुरम् । विद्युन्माली च संहृष्टो वज्रायसमयं महत्

Transliteration

yayāce kamalākṣastu rājataṃ sumahatpuram | vidyunmālī ca saṃhṛṣṭo vajrāyasamayaṃ mahat

Translation

随后迦摩罗迦叉祈求一座宏大的银城；而毗电摩利心中欢喜，请求一座以金刚般坚硬之铁铸成的巨城。

Word by Word

• ययाचे: requested, begged for
• ययाचे: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √याच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (ययाचे)

• कमलाक्षः: Kamalākṣa
• कमलाक्षः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल-अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (कमल इव अक्षी यस्य) / नाम

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपातः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/indeed)

• राजतम्: silver (made of silver)
• राजतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सु-महत्: very great
• सु-महत्: कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अतिमहत्)

• पुरम्: city, fortress
• पुरम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विद्युन्माली: Vidyunmālī
• विद्युन्माली: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत्-मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विद्युतः माला यस्य) / नाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• संहृष्टः: delighted
• संहृष्टः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; सम्-√हृष् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (delighted)

• वज्र-अयसमयम्: made of vajra-iron (adamantine metal)
• वज्र-अयसमयम्: कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र-अयस-मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वज्रायसः मयम् = made of adamantine iron/steel)

• महत्: great
• महत्: कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kamalākṣa
• Vidyunmālī

FAQs

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

It shows the asuric tendency to seek external, fortified power (cities of precious and hard metals) rather than inner purification; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true security is attained by surrender to Pati (Śiva), not by strengthening pāśa (bondage) through pride and possession.

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

The building of invincible cities sets the stage for Śiva’s Saguna intervention as the protector of dharma; devotion to the Liṅga symbolizes turning from material fortresses to the living presence of Śiva, who alone can dissolve the bonds that such power intensifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter pride and grasping with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Śiva-pūjā with bhasma and Rudrākṣa, cultivating humility and detachment rather than obsession with worldly ‘invulnerability’.