Shloka 24

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

अधिष्ठितविमानाग्र्यं सर्वदं सर्वकामदम् । इति शाखाविरक्तश्चेद्रुद्रकन्यासमावृतम्

Transliteration

adhiṣṭhitavimānāgryaṃ sarvadaṃ sarvakāmadam | iti śākhāviraktaścedrudrakanyāsamāvṛtam

Translation

“The foremost celestial car, presided over by the divine power of Śiva, bestowing everything and granting all desired aims”—thus it is declared. If one becomes detached from the worldly branches of pursuit, one is then encompassed by the Rudra‑maidens (the Śivaśaktis), who draw the soul toward the Lord.

Word by Word

• adhiṣṭhita-vimāna-agryam: the excellent aerial car that is occupied/seated upon
• adhiṣṭhita-vimāna-agryam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhiṣṭhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अधि+√sthā धातु) + vimāna (प्रातिपदिक) + agrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘adhiṣṭhita’ = seated/occupied (PPP) qualifying ‘vimānāgrya’

• sarva-dam: all-giving
• sarva-dam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā/√dā?; ‘da’ as giver)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• sarva-kāma-dam: granting all desires
• sarva-kāma-dam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative/particle)

• śākhā-viraktaḥ: detached from the branch (i.e., from worldly supports)
• śākhā-viraktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śākhā (प्रातिपदिक) + virakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• rudra-kanyā-samāvṛtam: surrounded by Rudra’s maidens
• rudra-kanyā-samāvṛtam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक) + samāvṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्+√vṛ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकर्मणि-क्त (PPP) ‘samāvṛta’ = surrounded/covered

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s glory to the sages at Naimisharanya, as typical framing for the Purana)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It links liberation to vairāgya (detachment): when the seeker turns away from branching worldly aims, Śiva’s grace—symbolized by the Rudra-maidens/śaktis—envelops and elevates the soul toward the supreme state.

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

The “presided” divine vehicle implies Saguna Śiva’s accessible, grace-bestowing presence: devotion to Śiva (often through Liṅga-worship) matures into dispassion, after which His śakti leads the devotee beyond mere wish-fulfillment toward spiritual fulfillment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily Śiva-bhakti with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside a discipline of vairāgya—reducing desire-driven actions—so that worship becomes a vehicle carrying the mind toward Śiva.