Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अकारश्च महच्छत्रं मंदरः पार्श्वदंडभाक् । शैलेन्द्रः कार्मुकं तस्य ज्या भुजंगाधिपस्स्वयम्

Transliteration

akāraśca mahacchatraṃ maṃdaraḥ pārśvadaṃḍabhāk | śailendraḥ kārmukaṃ tasya jyā bhujaṃgādhipassvayam

Translation

‘ଅ’ ଅକ୍ଷର ତାଙ୍କର ବିଶାଳ ରାଜଛତ୍ର ହେଲା; ମନ୍ଦର ପର୍ବତ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱଦଣ୍ଡ ହେଲା। ପର୍ବତରାଜ ତାଙ୍କର ଧନୁ ହେଲେ, ଏବଂ ସ୍ୱୟଂ ନାଗରାଜ ତାହାର ଜ୍ୟା ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

• अकारः: the syllable/letter ‘a’
• अकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; नाम (letter-name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महत्-छत्रम्: a great umbrella
• महत्-छत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (great + umbrella)

• मन्दरः: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम

• पार्श्व-दण्ड-भाक्: bearing a side-staff/side-handle
• पार्श्व-दण्ड-भाक्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + भज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त, क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘भाक्’ = भज्-धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing/bearing)

• शैल-इन्द्रः: lord of mountains
• शैल-इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (mountain + lord)

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ज्या: bowstring
• ज्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• भुजङ्ग-अधिपः: lord of serpents
• भुजङ्ग-अधिपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (serpent + lord)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः/स्वतः-प्रयोग (emphatic adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: अ (अकारः)

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic armament: mountains and nāga-king become implements; varṇa ‘A’ as sovereign canopy

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mandara
• Shailendra
• Serpent-king (Naga)

FAQs

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

It portrays how all cosmic principles—sound (akāra), mountains, and nāga-power—naturally become instruments of Shiva, indicating that the universe functions as the Lord’s body and equipment when He acts to protect dharma.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva: the transcendent Lord willingly assumes form and attributes, and even the elements of creation become His ornaments and weapons—just as the Linga is the accessible, worship-worthy manifestation of the Supreme (Pati) for devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as pervading mantra and matter: meditate on the primal sound (akāra within Om) and recite the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing all powers of nature aligning as protective grace under Shiva’s sovereignty.