Shloka 64

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

रथं पृथ्वीं विजानीयाद्रथांगे चन्द्रभास्करौ । वेदानश्वान्विजानीयात्सारथिं पद्मसं भवम्

Transliteration

rathaṃ pṛthvīṃ vijānīyādrathāṃge candrabhāskarau | vedānaśvānvijānīyātsārathiṃ padmasaṃ bhavam

Translation

One should understand the Earth to be the chariot; the Moon and the Sun are its wheels. The Vedas are to be known as the horses, and the charioteer is Padma-saṃbhava (Brahmā), the Lotus-born.

Word by Word

• ratham: the chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• pṛthvīm: the earth
• pṛthvīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• vijānīyāt: should understand/recognize
• vijānīyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ratha-aṅge: in the parts of the chariot
• ratha-aṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—रथस्य अङ्गम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• candra-bhāskarau: the Moon and the Sun
• candra-bhāskarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• vedān: the Vedas
• vedān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• aśvān: horses
• aśvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• vijānīyāt: should understand/recognize
• vijānīyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• sārathim: the charioteer
• sārathim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• padma-saṃbhavam: the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• padma-saṃbhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—पद्मात् सम्भवः (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Saṃhitā teaching to the sages, presenting cosmological symbolism aligned to Shaiva philosophy)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmological allegory of the ratha: earth as chariot, sun/moon as wheels, Vedas as horses, Brahmā as charioteer—used to sacralize the rathotsava with a cosmic mapping rather than a site-specific legend.

Significance: Encourages seeing ritual procession as a microcosm of the ordered universe; transforms outward festival into contemplative insight (adhyātma-darśana).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Surya
• Chandra
• Vedas
• Prithvi

FAQs

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

The verse teaches a contemplative mapping of the universe: the world (Earth) is the vehicle of embodied life, time and rhythm (Sun and Moon) move it, scripture (Vedas) provides guiding power, and cosmic intelligence (Brahmā) steers—so the seeker should transcend mere mechanics and turn toward Pati (Shiva), the ultimate Lord beyond the moving cosmos.

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

By presenting the cosmos as an ordered instrument, it supports Saguna Shiva worship: the devotee sees all cosmic functions as operating within Shiva’s lordship. Linga-bhakti then becomes the inward act of recognizing Shiva as the transcendent ground of Earth, Sun, Moon, and even Vedic authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (meditation) using cosmic correspondences: while japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), contemplate the Sun and Moon as wheels of time and the Vedas as guiding horses, offering the entire ‘chariot’ of experience to Shiva in Linga-worship.