Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure

Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुं स सस्मार तुष्टाव च हृदा बहु । नष्टोत्साहो विचेतस्को हृदयेन विदूयता

Transliteration

atha viṣṇuṃ sa sasmāra tuṣṭāva ca hṛdā bahu | naṣṭotsāho vicetasko hṛdayena vidūyatā

Translation

于是他忆念毗湿奴尊主，并由衷深切地赞颂。其志气已失，心神迷乱，胸中为悲痛所灼烧。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; देवता-नाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सस्मार: remembered
• सस्मार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘remembered’

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘praised’

• च: and
• च: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हृदा: with (his) heart
• हृदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; ‘with the heart’

• बहु: much/greatly
• बहु: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial use)

• नष्ट-उत्साहः: with lost courage
• नष्ट-उत्साहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त; √नश् धातु) + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘उत्साहः नष्टः यस्य’ = whose enthusiasm is lost

• विचेतस्कः: bewildered
• विचेतस्कः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘विगतं/विकृतं चेतः यस्य’ = bewildered/without composure

• हृदयेन: with (his) heart
• हृदयेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; ‘with/in the heart’

• विदूयता: being tormented/burning
• विदूयता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + दूय (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-भावः) ‘vidūyat’ = burning/tormented; तृतीया-विशेषणत्वेन ‘with a tormented (heart)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa episode to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It shows the inner turning-point where, when personal strength collapses, one seeks divine refuge through heartfelt remembrance and praise. In Shaiva understanding, such humility prepares the soul (paśu) to receive grace beyond ego-driven effort.

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

Although Viṣṇu is named here, the Purana’s broader Shaiva frame emphasizes that sincere devotion to the Divine (saguṇa upāsanā) steadies the mind in संकट (distress). The same principle applies in Liṅga-worship: with a softened heart, one approaches Śiva as the compassionate Lord who removes fear and grants clarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Heart-centered smaraṇa (remembrance) and stuti (praise). Practically, it aligns with japa of a chosen mantra—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—done with repentance, steadiness, and inward focus.