Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

स तं रथवरं ब्रह्मा शासनादेव शूलिनः । हरेस्समीपमानीय कृताञ्जलिरभाषत

Transliteration

sa taṃ rathavaraṃ brahmā śāsanādeva śūlinaḥ | haressamīpamānīya kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ശൂലധാരിയായ പ്രഭു (ശിവൻ) യുടെ ആജ്ഞമാത്രത്താൽ ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ രഥം ഹരി (വിഷ്ണു) യുടെ സമീപത്തേക്ക് കൊണ്ടുവന്ന്, കൃതാഞ്ജലിയായി അവനെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തു।

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tam: that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ratha-varam: the excellent chariot
• ratha-varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: varaḥ rathaḥ (excellent chariot)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śāsanāt: from the command
• śāsanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; reason/source sense

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, avadhāraṇa-particle (indeed/just)

• śūlinaḥ: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• śūlinaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūlin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; epithet of Śiva (trident-bearer)

• hareḥ: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hareḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• samīpam: near/presence
• samīpam: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used as goal with motion

• ānīya: having brought
• ānīya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with prefix ā-; √nī (to lead/bring)

• kṛta-añjaliḥ: with folded hands
• kṛta-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of brahmā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi: kṛtaḥ añjaliḥ yena saḥ (one whose añjali is made; with folded hands)

• abhāṣata: spoke/addressed
• abhāṣata: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ/लङ्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; with prefix abhi-; √bhāṣ (to speak)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse depicts hierarchical obedience: Brahmā acts ‘only by Śūlin’s command’ and approaches Hari. This dramatizes Śiva’s īśvaratva (lordship) over other deities—an important Siddhānta theme where Pati alone is svatantra, others are paratantra.

Significance: Cultivates humility and right-order devotion: even the highest cosmic functionaries submit to Śiva’s ordinance; the devotee learns to align will (icchā) with Śiva’s ājñā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose command governs even Brahmā and Viṣṇu, and it models humility (kṛtāñjali) as the proper devotional attitude within the cosmic order.

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

By naming Śiva as Śūlin (the Trident-bearer), the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—worshipped through form and attributes—showing that divine forms are not mere symbols but expressions of the Lord’s sovereign will guiding the gods.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The gesture of kṛtāñjali suggests bhakti-oriented upāsanā: begin worship or japa (such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with folded hands, inner surrender, and obedience to dharma as Śiva’s ordinance.