Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

पाशास्समंततस्तस्य सर्वे वर्षाचलास्स्मृताः । तलास्तस्य रथस्याऽथ सर्वे तलनिवासिनः

Transliteration

pāśāssamaṃtatastasya sarve varṣācalāssmṛtāḥ | talāstasya rathasyā'tha sarve talanivāsinaḥ

Translation

Alle Schlingen (pāśas), die ihn ringsum umgaben, galten als die Varṣa-Berge nach allen Seiten; und die Unterwelten (talas) waren wahrlich als Fundament seines Wagens aufgestellt—zusammen mit allen Wesen, die in jenen unterirdischen Bereichen wohnen.

Word by Word

• पाशाः: nooses/bonds
• पाशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (masc nom pl)

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

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

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc nom pl)

• वर्ष-अचलाः: Varṣa-mountains
• वर्ष-अचलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘वर्षाणां अचलाः’ = mountains of the regions/varṣas)

• स्मृताः: are called/are remembered as
• स्मृताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि (are said/remembered)

• तलाः: planes/levels
• तलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (masc nom pl)

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

• रथस्य: of the chariot
• रथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (masc gen sg)

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Anukrama (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (sequencing particle: ‘then/now’)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तल-निवासिनः: inhabitants of the levels
• तल-निवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘तले निवसन्ति’ = dwellers in the levels)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mapping of bonds (pāśa) onto cosmic geography (varṣa-mountains; talas)

FAQs

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

The verse uses cosmic imagery—nooses as mountains and the talas as a chariot-base—to show how bondage (pāśa) and the entire cosmos can be portrayed as instruments within divine order; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation comes when Pati (Śiva) removes pāśa from the paśu (bound soul).

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

Though not directly naming the Liṅga, the verse supports Saguna understanding: Śiva’s manifest power governs all realms (from mountains to netherworlds). Liṅga-worship trains the mind to see the whole universe as upheld and transcended by Śiva, the Lord of all planes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is pāśa-kṣaya-bhāvanā: while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), contemplate Śiva as the remover of inner bonds (attachments and karmic fetters), extending awareness through all “levels” of the being—like the talas—until steadied in Śiva.