Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

एवं सम्यक्कृतस्तेन धीमता विश्वकर्मणा । सरथादिप्रकारो हि ब्रह्मविष्ण्वाज्ञया शुभः

Transliteration

evaṃ samyakkṛtastena dhīmatā viśvakarmaṇā | sarathādiprakāro hi brahmaviṣṇvājñayā śubhaḥ

Translation

Như vậy, bởi Viśvakarman bậc trí, toàn bộ sự sắp đặt cát tường—khởi đầu từ chiến xa—đã được chế tác viên mãn, theo mệnh lệnh của Brahmā và Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• kṛtaḥ: was made
• kṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘was made/done’ (passive sense)

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dhīmatā: by the wise one
• dhīmatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘wise/skillful’

• viśvakarmaṇā: by Viśvakarman
• viśvakarmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvakarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sa-ratha-ādi-prakāraḥ: the whole arrangement starting with the chariot
• sa-ratha-ādi-prakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (उपसर्गसदृश/सह) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + prakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘the arrangement/type beginning with (i.e., including) the chariot’

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

• brahma-viṣṇu-ājñayā: by Brahmā and Viṣṇu’s command
• brahma-viṣṇu-ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘by the command of Brahmā and Viṣṇu’

• śubhaḥ: auspicious
• śubhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, as is standard for the Purāṇic frame in the Rudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Divine administration motif: cosmic functions executed through delegated agencies (Brahmā–Viṣṇu) under the higher telos of Śiva’s līlā.

Characters & Entities

• Vishvakarman
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights that even cosmic action (like war-preparation) proceeds through ṛta—divine order—where skilled effort (Viśvakarman) aligns with higher sanction (Brahmā and Viṣṇu), ultimately serving the unfolding of Śiva’s līlā within auspiciousness (śubha).

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

Though the verse speaks of a chariot, it reflects Saguna governance: the manifest divine works through appointed powers and sacred craftsmanship. In Śaiva devotion, such ordered manifestation supports reverence for Śiva’s accessible forms—temples, liṅga, and ritual structures—made ‘śubha’ when aligned with dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is saṅkalpa with alignment: begin worship or any sādhana by mentally offering the act to Śiva and proceeding with precision and purity—often supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining śauca (cleanliness) to make the undertaking ‘śubha’.