Shloka 156

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

Devanagari script

रथो रथी देववरो हरिश् च रुद्रः स्वयं शक्रपितामहौ च त्वमेव सर्वे भगवन् कथं तु स्तोष्ये ह्य् अतोष्यं प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना

Transliteration

ratho rathī devavaro hariś ca rudraḥ svayaṃ śakrapitāmahau ca tvameva sarve bhagavan kathaṃ tu stoṣye hy atoṣyaṃ praṇipatya mūrdhnā

Translation

Wagen und Wagenlenker, der erhabenste der Götter—Hari; Rudra selbst; und auch Śakra und Pitāmaha: sie alle bist wahrhaft Du allein, o Bhagavān. Wie könnte ich Dich, den Unübertrefflichen, preisen—anders als indem ich mich mit geneigtem Haupt niederwerfe?

Word by Word

• rathaḥ: the chariot

• rathī: the charioteer/warrior

• deva-varaḥ: the best among the gods

• hariḥ: Hari (Viṣṇu)

• ca: and

• rudraḥ: Rudra (Śiva as the fierce Lord)

• svayam: Himself

• śakra: Śakra (Indra)

• pitāmahaḥ: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)

• ca: and

• tvam eva: You alone

• sarve: all (as all forms)

• bhagavan: O Blessed Lord

• katham tu: how indeed/then

• stoṣye: shall I praise

• hi: indeed

• atoṣyam: the unappeasable/unsurpassable (beyond full satisfaction by praise)

• praṇipatya: having prostrated/bowing down

• mūrdhnā: with the head

Speaker

A devotee (within Suta’s narration) offering a non-dual praise to Shiva as Pati beyond all deities

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Rudra
• Indra
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that the essence of Linga-pūjā is recognizing Shiva as the inner Self and source of all divine functions; therefore the most fitting worship is surrender (praṇāma) rather than attempting to “complete” Him with words.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—the one Lord who appears as Hari, Rudra, Indra, and Brahmā, as well as the instruments of action (chariot) and agency (charioteer), indicating His all-pervasive sovereignty beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śirasā praṇipāta (bowing with the head) is highlighted—an act of bhakti and Pāśupata-style humility that loosens pasha (bondage) by dissolving egoic agency before Pati.