Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

द्यौर्वरूथं रथस्यास्य स्वर्गमोक्षावुभौ ध्वजौ । युगान्तकोटितौ तस्य भ्रमकामदुघौ स्मृतौ

Transliteration

dyaurvarūthaṃ rathasyāsya svargamokṣāvubhau dhvajau | yugāntakoṭitau tasya bhramakāmadughau smṛtau

Translation

苍穹本身即为他战车的华盖；其两面旗幡乃是天界（svarga）与解脱（mokṣa）。而对他而言，被称为 Yugānta 与 Koṭita 的一对，素以赐予奇妙、满愿之效而闻名。

Word by Word

• द्यौः: the sky
• द्यौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (क्वचित् पुं), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वरूथम्: the covering/armor
• वरूथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(रथस्य) वरूथम्’ = covering/armor

• रथस्य: of the chariot
• रथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वर्ग-मोक्षौ: heaven and liberation
• स्वर्ग-मोक्षौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘ध्वजौ’ इति विशेषण

• ध्वजौ: the two banners
• ध्वजौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• युगान्त-कोटितौ: like the end-of-an-age’s peak (immense)
• युगान्त-कोटितौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युगान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्देशात्मकः (युगान्तस्य कोटि-तुल्यौ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘(ध्वजौ)’ इति विशेषण

• तस्य: of it/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भ्रम-काम-दुघौ: yielding (fulfilling) wandering and desires
• भ्रम-काम-दुघौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + दुह् (धातु) + दुघ (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (भ्रमः कामः च येन दुह्येते/दुग्धे इति), ‘दुघ’ = शतृ/ण्वुलादि-प्रत्ययान्त ‘दोहक’ अर्थे; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘(ध्वजौ)’ इति विशेषण

• स्मृतौ: are said/are remembered as
• स्मृतौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + स्मृत (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yugānta (end-of-age) imagery paired with mokṣa as a banner—cosmic cycles subordinated to liberation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses chariot-symbolism to distinguish two goals: svarga (temporary heavenly merit) and moksha (final release). In Shaiva Siddhanta, true fulfillment is not merely celestial enjoyment but liberation through Shiva’s grace, with worldly and heavenly rewards remaining secondary.

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

By portraying ‘Heaven’ and ‘Liberation’ as banners, the text implies that devotion to Saguna Shiva (often approached through the Shiva Linga) can grant both results—yet it subtly elevates moksha as the superior aim, attained by surrender and steadfast Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Aim your practice beyond svarga: perform Shiva-puja with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), apply Tripuṇḍra bhasma, and cultivate inward remembrance of Shiva as the giver of moksha rather than merely a fulfiller of desires.