Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाप्राज्ञ रथादेर्निर्मितिं मुने । यथामति प्रवक्ष्येऽहं स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu vyāsa mahāprājña rathādernirmitiṃ mune | yathāmati pravakṣye'haṃ smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Translation

സനത്കുമാരൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ മഹാപ്രാജ്ഞനായ വ്യാസാ, ഹേ മുനേ! രഥാദികളുടെ നിർമ്മാണവിവരം കേൾക്കുക. ശിവന്റെ പാദകമലങ്ങൾ സ്മരിച്ചു ഞാൻ എന്റെ ബോധപ്രകാരം വിവരിക്കും.

Word by Word

• सनत्-कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्-कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (proper name)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महा-प्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महा-प्राज्ञ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् प्राज्ञः’

• रथ-आदेः: of the chariot and the rest
• रथ-आदेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘रथादीनाम्’ (of chariot etc.)

• निर्मितिम्: construction/formation
• निर्मितिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्मिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यथा-मति: according to (my) understanding
• यथा-मति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग — Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (‘according to (my) understanding’)

• प्रवक्ष्ये: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Simple future, 1st person, Singular (Ātmanepada)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Pronoun, Nominative, Singular

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — Gerund ‘having remembered’

• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम्’

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that sacred knowledge and even worldly action should begin with Śiva-smaraṇa—remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet—so the mind, speech, and intention become aligned with Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord who grants purity and right understanding.

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

By invoking “Śiva’s lotus-feet,” the text models Saguna devotion—personal remembrance of the Lord’s form and grace—an attitude that also underlies Liṅga-worship, where the devotee begins every rite with reverent recollection and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice of smaraṇa: before study, narration, or ritual, mentally bow to Śiva’s feet and recite a Śiva-nāma (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), establishing devotion and inner steadiness.