Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

तदानीं भूषणान्येव षडंगान्युपभूषणम् । पुराणन्यायमीमांसा धर्मशास्त्राणि सुव्रताः

Transliteration

tadānīṃ bhūṣaṇānyeva ṣaḍaṃgānyupabhūṣaṇam | purāṇanyāyamīmāṃsā dharmaśāstrāṇi suvratāḥ

Translation

At that time, the disciplines themselves became ornaments: the six auxiliaries of the Veda served as adornments, and the Purāṇas, Nyāya, Mīmāṃsā, and the Dharmaśāstras—O you of noble vows—stood forth as embellishing supports.

Word by Word

• तदानीम्: then
• तदानीम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; temporal adverb ‘then/at that time’

• भूषणानि: ornaments
• भूषणानि: Karta (कर्ता) / Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; neuter, nominative/accusative plural

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात; emphatic particle

• षडङ्गानि: the six auxiliaries (ṣaḍaṅgas)
• षडङ्गानि: Karta (कर्ता) / Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; neuter, nominative/accusative plural; द्विगुसमासः—‘षट् अङ्गानि’ (six limbs/auxiliaries)

• उपभूषणम्: a subsidiary ornament
• उपभूषणम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; neuter, nominative/accusative singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘उप (गौणं) भूषणम्’ (subsidiary ornament)

• पुराणन्यायमीमांसा: Purāṇa, Nyāya, and Mīmāṃsā (together)
• पुराणन्यायमीमांसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + न्याय + मीमांसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः); feminine, nominative singular (collective); द्वन्द्वसमासः—पुराणं च न्यायश्च मीमांसा च

• धर्मशास्त्राणि: Dharma-śāstras
• धर्मशास्त्राणि: Karta (कर्ता) / Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; neuter, nominative/accusative plural; तत्पुरुषः—‘धर्मस्य शास्त्राणि’ (treatises on dharma)

• सुव्रताः: of good vows / well-disciplined
• सुव्रताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; masculine, nominative plural; कर्मधारयः—‘सु (शोभनं) व्रतं येषाम्’ (having good vows)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that the highest ‘adornment’ is not material splendor but śāstric wisdom—Vedāṅgas, Purāṇas, and Dharmaśāstras—which steadies dharma and aligns the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through right knowledge and right conduct.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not mere external ritual; it is supported by correct understanding (nyāya, mīmāṃsā) and dharmic living. These ‘ornaments’ refine devotion so that Saguna Shiva worship becomes a disciplined path leading toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a suvrata (noble vow) with scriptural discipline: daily Shiva-pūjā with the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by dharmic restraints (satya, śauca, ahiṃsā) and respectful study/hearing of Purāṇic teachings.