Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

तत्र तत्र कृतस्थानाः शोभयांचक्रिरे रथम् । आवहाद्यास्तथा सप्त सोपानं हैममुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tatra tatra kṛtasthānāḥ śobhayāṃcakrire ratham | āvahādyāstathā sapta sopānaṃ haimamuttamam

Translation

彼女らはここかしこに定められた座を占めて戦車を荘厳した。さらに同様に、七段からなる最上の黄金の階（きざはし）をもたらした。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• तत्र: in various places
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-देशवाचक-अव्यय (here and there)

• कृत-स्थानाः: having taken their places
• कृत-स्थानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + क्त) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुषसमासः (कृतं स्थानं येषाम्/कृतस्थानाḥ = having taken positions)

• शोभयाम्: beauty/splendor
• शोभयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (शोभाम्)

• चक्रिरे: they made/produced
• चक्रिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• आवह-आद्याः: beginning with Āvaha
• आवह-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवह (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (आवहः आदिः येषाम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक (likewise)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्यावाचक-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• सोपानम्: a stairway/steps
• सोपानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोपान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हैमम्: golden
• हैमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (golden)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It highlights sacred order and rightful placement: when beings take their proper stations in service of dharma, the divine vehicle (symbol of purposeful action under the Lord’s will) becomes radiant and effective.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s manifest governance—devotees and divine attendants arrange themselves and sacred implements in an ordered way, just as worship of the Linga involves precise placement of offerings and ritual steps that express devotion through disciplined action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is disciplined, step-by-step worship: approach Shiva through ordered practice—such as steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and structured pūjā—mirroring the “seven steps” as a symbol of gradual ascent in devotion.