Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे पुरदाहे नन्दिकेश्वरवाक्यं नाम एकसप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच शिवस् छरिओत् फ़ोर् देस्त्रुच्तिओन् ओफ़् त्रिपुर अथ रुद्रस्य देवस्य निर्मितो विश्वकर्मणा सर्वलोकमयो दिव्यो रथो यत्नेन सादरम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge puradāhe nandikeśvaravākyaṃ nāma ekasaptatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca Śivas chariot for destruction of Tripura atha rudrasya devasya nirmito viśvakarmaṇā sarvalokamayo divyo ratho yatnena sādaram

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, in the account of the burning of Tripura—called “Nandikeśvara’s Discourse”—the seventy-second chapter. Sūta said: Then, for the destruction of Tripura, Viśvakarmā carefully and reverently fashioned for the divine Rudra a celestial chariot composed of all the worlds.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• puradāhe: in the episode of the burning of the cities (Tripura)

• nandikeśvara-vākyaṃ nāma: named “the words/discourse of Nandikeśvara”

• ekasaptatitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the seventy-second chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• atha: then

• rudrasya devasya: of the god Rudra

• nirmito: was constructed

• viśvakarmaṇā: by Viśvakarmā

• sarva-loka-mayaḥ: consisting of all worlds / made of the totality of the lokas

• divyaḥ: celestial, divine

• rathaḥ: chariot

• yatnena: with effort, carefully

• sādaram: respectfully, with devotion.

Speaker

Sūta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Viśvakarmā
• Tripura

FAQs

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

By depicting Shiva’s chariot as “made of all the worlds,” the verse frames Mahādeva as the Pati (Lord) whose cosmic form encompasses all realms; Linga worship aligns the devotee (paśu) to that all-pervading Lord, loosening pasha (bondage) through devotion and right knowledge.

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

Shiva appears as Rudra, the sovereign power who can employ the entire cosmos as an instrument—his vehicle is world-composed—indicating transcendence and immanence: he stands beyond the worlds yet pervades and commands them for dharmic restoration.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

While no specific rite is prescribed in this line, the theme supports Pāśupata orientation: surrender to Pati and contemplation of Shiva’s viśvarūpa (cosmic form), a yogic bhāvanā that helps the paśu detach from pasha and move toward liberation.