Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

लोकालोकाचलस्तस्योपसोपानस्समंततः । विषयश्च तथा बाह्यो मानसादिस्तु शोभनः

Transliteration

lokālokācalastasyopasopānassamaṃtataḥ | viṣayaśca tathā bāhyo mānasādistu śobhanaḥ

Translation

Ringsum befanden sich von allen Seiten die aufsteigenden Zugänge und Stufen des Lokāloka-Berges; und jenseits davon lag der äußere Bereich der Gegenstände—beginnend mit dem Geist—schön geordnet.

Word by Word

• लोक-अलोक-अचलः: the Lokāloka mountain
• लोक-अलोक-अचलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + अलोक + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (लोकः च अलोकः च) + अचलः (mountain) (masc nom sg)

• तस्य: of it/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive: ‘of it/of him’)

• उप-सोपानः: a subsidiary stair/step (approach-step)
• उप-सोपानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप + सोपान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उप- = ‘near/secondary’)

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: ‘on all sides’)

• विषयः: object/realm
• विषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc nom sg)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/Prakāra (समुच्चय/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• बाह्यः: external
• बाह्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc nom sg; adjective)

• मानस-आदिः: beginning with the mental (mind etc.)
• मानस-आदिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘मानसः आदिः’ = beginning with the mental)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• शोभनः: beautiful, auspicious
• शोभनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc nom sg)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic geography (Lokāloka boundary; inner/outer realms)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as structured “realms” and “approaches,” while hinting that experience (viṣaya)—starting with the mind—can appear beautiful yet remains an outer field to be transcended through Shiva-oriented discernment.

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

By depicting the ordered universe and its attractive fields of experience, the verse supports the Shaiva view that turning from external viṣayas toward Saguna Shiva (as worshipped in the Liṅga) stabilizes the mind and leads it toward the Lord who is beyond cosmic limits.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate pratyāhāra (withdrawal from viṣayas) alongside steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), using vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as aids to keep the mind from dispersing into outward objects.