Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

अश्वरत्नद्वयोदारो रथचक्रचतुष्टयः । सञ्चितानेकदिव्यास्त्रशस्त्ररत्नपरिष्कृतः

Transliteration

aśvaratnadvayodāro rathacakracatuṣṭayaḥ | sañcitānekadivyāstraśastraratnapariṣkṛtaḥ

Translation

ആ രഥം രണ്ടു ശ്രേഷ്ഠ രത്നസദൃശ അശ്വങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തവും നാലു ചക്രങ്ങളാൽ സുസജ്ജിതവും ആയിരുന്നു; അതിൽ സംചിതമായ അനേകം ദിവ്യാസ്ത്ര-ശസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു, അമൂല്യ രത്നങ്ങളാൽ അത്യന്തം അലങ്കൃതവുമായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• aśva-ratna-dvaya-udāraḥ: excellent with a pair of jewel-like horses
• aśva-ratna-dvaya-udāraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक) + udāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa (determinative): aśva-ratnayoḥ dvayam (two horse-gems) + udāra (excellent) → 'excellent with two horse-gems'

• ratha-cakra-catuṣṭayaḥ: having a set of four chariot-wheels
• ratha-cakra-catuṣṭayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + catuṣṭaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: rathasya cakrāṇāṃ catuṣṭayam (set of four wheels of the chariot)

• sañcita-aneka-divya-astra-śastra-ratna-pariṣkṛtaḥ: adorned with many collected divine missiles, weapons, and jewels
• sañcita-aneka-divya-astra-śastra-ratna-pariṣkṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sañcita (कृदन्त; √ci धातु) + aneka (प्रातिपदिक) + divya (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक) + śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + pariṣkṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु with pari-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: 'adorned/embellished (pariṣkṛta) with many (aneka) divine (divya) collected (sañcita) weapons (astra), arms (śastra), and jewels (ratna)'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is set in a martial-theophanic narrative (Tripura-war ambience): the divine chariot is described as gem-adorned and stocked with celestial astras/śastras, functioning as an instrument for the Lord’s cosmic victory over adharma rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga-māhātmya.

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as the supreme governor of divine powers (astra-śakti) strengthens śaraṇāgati (refuge) and confidence in His protection and removal of inner enemies (kāma, krodha, etc.).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses royal, celestial imagery—horses, wheels, weapons, and gems—to portray divinely empowered means (śakti and upāya) that ultimately serve Dharma and point back to Pati (Shiva) as the supreme source of all power and splendor.

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

Such descriptions support Saguna (attribute-bearing) contemplation: devotees grasp Shiva’s supremacy through majestic forms and divine instruments, which can culminate in deeper devotion that matures toward realizing the Linga as the timeless ground of all manifestations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Saguna dhyāna: visualize Shiva’s divine majesty while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering bilva leaves and applying Tripuṇḍra, so the mind becomes steady and oriented toward Pati.