Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

अस्ताद्रिरुदयाद्रिस्तु तावुभौ कूबरौ स्मृतौ । अधिष्ठानं महामेरुराश्रयाः केशराचलाः

Transliteration

astādrirudayādristu tāvubhau kūbarau smṛtau | adhiṣṭhānaṃ mahāmerurāśrayāḥ keśarācalāḥ

Translation

ଅସ୍ତାଦ୍ରି ଓ ଉଦୟାଦ୍ରି—ଏହି ଦୁଇଟିକୁ ‘କୁବେର’ (ଧାରଣକାରୀ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱ) ବୋଲି ସ୍ମରଣ କରାଯାଏ। ମହାମେରୁ ତାଙ୍କର ଅଧିଷ୍ଠାନ; କେଶରାଚଳମାନେ ତାହାର ଆଶ୍ରୟ-ଶ୍ରେଣୀ।

Word by Word

• asta-adriḥ: Asta mountain
• asta-adriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asta (प्रातिपदिक) + adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'setting-mountain' (Asta mountain)

• udaya-adriḥ: Udaya mountain
• udaya-adriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaya (प्रातिपदिक) + adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'rising-mountain' (Udaya mountain)

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

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); agrees with tau

• kūbarau: the two side-posts/buttresses (kūbaras)
• kūbarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūbara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• smṛtau: are called/are known as
• smṛtau: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); used predicatively: 'are called/are remembered as'

• adhiṣṭhānam: base, foundation
• adhiṣṭhānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhiṣṭhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-meruḥ: Mahāmeru
• mahā-meruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'great Meru'

• āśrayāḥ: supports, abodes
• āśrayāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• keśara-acalāḥ: Keśara mountains
• keśara-acalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśara (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: 'Keśara mountains' (proper name)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Astādri
• Udayādri
• Keśarācala

FAQs

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

It frames sacred geography as an ordered, supported cosmos—implying that creation stands on divinely maintained foundations, encouraging the devotee to see the world as upheld by higher (Shaiva) order rather than randomness.

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

By presenting Meru and its supporting ranges as a stable axis, the verse aligns with Saguna devotion: just as the cosmos has a central support, the devotee centers worship on the Shiva-Linga as the steadfast axis of contemplation and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is axis-meditation: focus the mind on a single center (like Meru), then mentally place the Shiva-Linga there, repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate steadiness and inner support.