Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

शशिनः षोडशारास्तु कला वामस्य सुव्रत । ऋक्षाणि तु तथा तस्य वामस्यैव विभूषणम्

Transliteration

śaśinaḥ ṣoḍaśārāstu kalā vāmasya suvrata | ṛkṣāṇi tu tathā tasya vāmasyaiva vibhūṣaṇam

Translation

Wahai yang mulia dengan vrata yang unggul, enam belas sinar Bulan ialah perhiasan pada sisi kiri-Nya; demikian juga nakṣatra, rumah-rumah bulan, menjadi hiasan pada sisi kiri itu juga.

Word by Word

• śaśinaḥ: of the moon
• śaśinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṣoḍaśa-arāḥ: sixteen spokes/rays
• ṣoḍaśa-arāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: 'sixteen-spoked (rays/spokes)'

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• kalāḥ: digits/phases
• kalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vāmasya: of the left (side)
• vāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• suvrata: O noble-vowed one
• suvrata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); addressed to 'O good-vowed one'

• ṛkṣāṇi: stars/constellations
• ṛkṣāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• tathā: likewise, also
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāmasya: of the left (side)
• vāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Viśeṣaṇa-bodhaka (विशेषणबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• vibhūṣaṇam: ornament, adornment
• vibhūṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Saguna Shiva’s sacred symbolism: the Moon and its sixteen kalās signify completeness, soothing grace, and the Lord’s mastery over time and mind—supporting devotional contemplation that leads the bound soul (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati).

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

While the Liṅga points to the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, this verse supports saguna worship by meditating on Śiva’s divine form and ornaments—using cosmic symbols (Moon and nakṣatras) to steady devotion and deepen inner absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is dhyāna: visualize Śiva with the Moon and nakṣatras as ornaments, then repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm, cooling awareness, especially on Mondays or Mahāśivarātri.