Shloka 96

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

रथेन किं चेषुवरेण तस्य गणैश् च किं देवगणैश् च शंभोः पुरत्रयं दग्धुमलुप्तशक्तेः किमेतद् इत्याहुर् अजेन्द्रमुख्याः

Transliteration

rathena kiṃ ceṣuvareṇa tasya gaṇaiś ca kiṃ devagaṇaiś ca śaṃbhoḥ puratrayaṃ dagdhumaluptaśakteḥ kimetad ityāhur ajendramukhyāḥ

Translation

“他何须战车，又何须上妙之箭？商婆（Śambhu）何须侍从，又何须诸天之众？其神力从不减损——他独自便能焚毁三城（Tripura）。‘那么这一切究竟何意？’——无生者与因陀罗中最尊者（即梵天与诸天领袖）如是说道。”

Word by Word

• रथेन: with a chariot/for a chariot

• किम्: what (need)?

• चेषुवरेण: with an excellent arrow

• तस्य: for him/of him

• गणैः: with the gaṇas (Śiva’s attendants)

• च: and

• किम्: what (need)?

• देवगणैः: with the hosts of gods

• च: and

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)

• पुरत्रयम्: the three cities (Tripura)

• दग्धुम्: to burn

• अलुप्त-शक्तेः: whose power is undiminishing/unimpaired

• किम् एतत्: what is this (purpose)?

• इति: thus

• आहुः: they said

• अजेन्द्र-मुख्याः: the foremost among Aja (Brahmā) and Indra (the leading Devas).

Speaker

Devas led by Brahma and Indra (as recounted within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Ganas
• Devas
• Brahma (Aja)
• Indra

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It underscores Shiva’s alupta-śakti—his power is self-existent and not dependent on external aids—supporting Linga worship as devotion to the independent Pati rather than to contingent instruments.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is portrayed as the sovereign Pati whose śakti never wanes; even cosmic functions like destroying Tripura do not require support from devas, weapons, or vehicles—these are symbolic upāyas, not necessities.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative takeaway aligned with Pāśupata orientation: meditate on Shiva’s independence (svātantrya) and offer worship seeing all ritual implements as symbols, while the true refuge is the Pati beyond pasha (bondage).