Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot

Pre-battle Portents

Devanagari script

तदा पशुपतीत्येतत्तस्य नाम महेशितुः । प्रसिद्धमभवद्वध्वा सर्वलोकेषु शर्मदम्

Transliteration

tadā paśupatītyetattasya nāma maheśituḥ | prasiddhamabhavadvadhvā sarvalokeṣu śarmadam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ (ശത്രുവിനെ) വധിച്ചതിന് ശേഷം, ആ മഹേശ്വരന്റെ ‘പശുപതി’ എന്ന നാമം സർവ്വലോകങ്ങളിലും പ്രസിദ്ധമായി; അത് മംഗളവും ശാന്തിയും നൽകുന്നതായി.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पशुपति: Paśupati
• पशुपति: Predicate/Name (संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (नामरूपेण/quoted form); तत्पुरुष-समास (पशूनां पतिः)

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Quotation marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नाम: name
• नाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• महेशितुः: of the Great Ruler (Maheśa)
• महेशितुः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (महान् ईशिता/ईशितृ)

• प्रसिद्धम्: well-known
• प्रसिद्धम्: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (एतत्/नाम)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतन-भूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वध्वा: by/through the bride (Pārvatī)
• वध्वा: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• सर्वलोकेषु: in all worlds
• सर्वलोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषु लोकेषु)

• शर्मदम्: bestowing happiness/comfort
• शर्मदम्: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शर्म ददाति इति/शर्म-दम्); विशेषण (नाम/एतत्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Name-etymology episode: after slaying the foe, Śiva’s epithet ‘Paśupati’ becomes universally famed as a śarmada (peace-bestowing) name; this is a title-origin motif rather than a Jyotirliṅga foundation.

Significance: Recalling/uttering the name ‘Paśupati’ is framed as śarmada—conferring welfare and inner peace—aligning with nāma-smaraṇa as a bhakti practice.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: paśupati

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains how Shiva’s epithet “Paśupati” becomes widely revered: as the Lord (Pati) who governs and liberates bound beings (paśus), his victorious act becomes a source of śarma—peace and auspicious well-being—for all worlds.

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s manifest (saguṇa) lordship through a concrete divine act that establishes his sacred name. In Linga-worship, devotees invoke such names (like Paśupati) to approach the transcendent Lord through his compassionate, accessible forms and qualities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of Shiva’s names—especially “Paśupati”—along with Pañcākṣarī mantra practice (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is a direct takeaway, cultivating śarma (inner peace) and surrender to Shiva as the liberating Lord of all beings.