Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot

Pre-battle Portents

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नारोऽहतिरथं कल्पितं लोकसंभृतम् । शिरोभिः पतिता भूमौ तुरगा वेदसंभवाः

Transliteration

tasminnāro'hatirathaṃ kalpitaṃ lokasaṃbhṛtam | śirobhiḥ patitā bhūmau turagā vedasaṃbhavāḥ

Translation

Là, ce char—façonné par Nārā et Ahaṭi et assemblé grâce aux ressources des mondes—fut abattu par le choc. Sur le sol tombèrent les chevaux, nés des Veda, la tête inclinée.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहतिरथम्: the assault-chariot
• अहतिरथम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहति + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (ahati-ratha = 'chariot of assault/attack'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कल्पितम्: constructed; arranged
• कल्पितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कॢप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; रथ-विशेषण; धातु: कॢप् (to arrange/construct)

• लोकसंभृतम्: assembled by the world; publicly provided
• लोकसंभृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + संभृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (loka-saṃbhṛta = 'provided/assembled by the world/people'); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; रथ-विशेषण

• शिरोभिः: with (their) heads
• शिरोभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पतिताः: fallen
• पतिताः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तुरग-विशेषण

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुरगाः: horses
• तुरगाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदसंभवाः: born of the Vedas
• वेदसंभवाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (veda-saṃbhava = 'born from the Veda'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तुरग-विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; the collapse of the divinely fashioned chariot and Veda-born horses dramatizes the fragility of created supports when confronted with cosmic dissolution (saṃhāra).

Significance: Contemplation on impermanence: even ‘Veda-born’ powers and celestial vehicles fail; urges reliance on Pati rather than on contingent instruments (pāśa-bound supports).

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Battle-field microcosm of saṃhāra: constructed forms (ratha, aśva) collapse, echoing pralaya symbolism.

Characters & Entities

• Nara
• Ahaṭi
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva view that all created powers—even those described as Veda-born and world-supported—remain contingent and can be brought down; only Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord, is ultimately independent.

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

The verse contrasts external supports (chariots, armies, divine instruments) with the need for refuge in Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord; Linga-worship centers the devotee in the unshakable divine presence beyond worldly constructions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa, cultivating inner refuge in Śiva rather than reliance on external strength.