Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

रुद्ररथ-निर्माणवर्णनम् / Description of Rudra’s Divine Chariot Construction

Devanagari script

इदानीं रथनिर्माणं ब्रूहि देवमयं परम् । शिवार्थं यत्कृतं दिव्यं धीमता विश्वकर्मणा

Transliteration

idānīṃ rathanirmāṇaṃ brūhi devamayaṃ param | śivārthaṃ yatkṛtaṃ divyaṃ dhīmatā viśvakarmaṇā

Translation

„Nun berichte mir vom Bau jenes höchsten, göttlichen, von Götterhand gewirkten Streitwagens—zum Zwecke Śivas geschaffen—den der weise Viśvakarmā auf wunderbare Weise fertigte.“

Word by Word

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण — Indeclinable; temporal adverb

• रथ-निर्माणम्: the construction of the chariot
• रथ-निर्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्माण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘रथस्य निर्माणम्’

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• देव-मयम्: divine-made/divine in nature
• देव-मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘देवैर्मयम्/देवस्वरूपम्’

• परम्: supreme/excellent
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शिव-अर्थम्: for Śiva’s purpose
• शिव-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; चतुर्थी/तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘शिवाय/शिवस्य हेतु’ (purpose)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Pronoun, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular (relative)

• कृतम्: made
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — PPP ‘made’, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• धीमता: by the wise one
• धीमता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विश्वकर्मणा: by Viśvakarman
• विश्वकर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue; the immediate speaker in the verse is inferred as a divine/interlocutor requesting details within the battle narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishvakarma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śivārtha—acting for Shiva’s purpose—as spiritually elevating; even worldly instruments (like a chariot) become sacred when dedicated to the Lord’s divine work, aligning the devotee with Pati (Shiva) rather than bondage (pāśa).

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

By emphasizing a “divine, supreme” form made for Shiva’s mission, the verse supports Saguna devotion: Shiva is approached through consecrated forms and sacred means, just as Linga worship uses tangible symbols to focus reverence on the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is dedication (arpana-bhāva): perform actions as śivārtha—mentally offering one’s work to Shiva—along with simple Shaiva supports like japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and mindful service in worship.