Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot

Pre-battle Portents

Devanagari script

पुराण्युद्दिश्य वै त्रीणि तेषां खस्थानि तानि हि । अधिष्ठिते महेशे तु दानवानां तरस्विनाम्

Transliteration

purāṇyuddiśya vai trīṇi teṣāṃ khasthāni tāni hi | adhiṣṭhite maheśe tu dānavānāṃ tarasvinām

Translation

ಪುರಾತನ ವೃತ್ತಾಂತಗಳನ್ನು ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸಿ, ಅವರ ಮೂರು ದುರ್ಗಗಳಿದ್ದವು; ಅವೇ ಅವರ ಆಕಾಶಸ್ಥ ದಿವ್ಯ ಕೋಟೆಗಳು. ಆದರೆ ಮಹೇಶನು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅಧಿಷ್ಠಾನ ಮಾಡಿದಾಗ, ಬಲಿಷ್ಠ ದಾನವರ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಅವನ ವಶಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂತು.

Word by Word

• पुराणि: ancient (things)
• पुराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय) + अणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘पुराणि’ = प्राचीनानि (ancient things)

• उद्दिश्य: having pointed out / intending
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; “having indicated/aimed at”

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• खस्थानि: situated in the sky
• खस्थानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (खे तिष्ठन्ति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• अधिष्ठिते: when presided over / while ruling
• अधिष्ठिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि+स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘अधिष्ठित’; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध) “when/while (he) was presiding”

• महेशे: in/when Mahesha
• महेशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे कर्तरि

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• दानवानाम्: of the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• तरस्विनाम्: of the mighty/strong
• तरस्विनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of dānavas)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tripura motif: three aerial strongholds (kha-sthāni) of the Dānavas, prelude to their subjugation/dissolution

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheśa
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose mere presiding presence subdues the arrogance and momentum of hostile forces—teaching that surrender to Maheśa dissolves the seeming invincibility of bondage and ego.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva as Maheśa—actively ‘presiding’ and governing events. Linga-worship similarly centers on acknowledging Śiva’s sovereign presence (adhiṣṭhāna) as the power that steadies, purifies, and ultimately liberates the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mindful adhiṣṭhāna-bhāva: begin japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Maheśa as the inner governor who subdues turbulent impulses; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and simple Śiva-ārādhanā on Mahāśivarātri.