Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

अथ देवस्य रुद्रस्य निर्मितो विश्वकर्मणा । सर्वलोकमयो दिव्यो रथो यत्नेन सादरम्

Transliteration

atha devasya rudrasya nirmito viśvakarmaṇā | sarvalokamayo divyo ratho yatnena sādaram

Translation

于是，毗湿瓦羯磨以谨慎的勤勉与恭敬之心，为主鲁陀罗造作一乘光辉的天界神车，奇妙非常，仿佛其形体含摄一切诸世界。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक/अनन्तरार्थक (indeclinable; then/thereupon)

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• रुद्रस्य: of Rudra
• रुद्रस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• निर्मितः: was made/constructed
• निर्मितः: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि√मा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• विश्वकर्मणा: by Viśvakarman
• विश्वकर्मणा: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• सर्वलोकमयः: consisting of all worlds
• सर्वलोकमयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लोक + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वलोकमय = सर्वेषां लोकानां मयः/मयः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• दिव्यः: divine
• दिव्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• रथः: chariot
• रथः: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana (करण/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सादरम्: respectfully
• सादरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सादर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative/indeclinable usage); ‘आदर’ सहितम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Vishvakarma

FAQs

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

It portrays Rudra’s saguna majesty: even the cosmic artisan Viśvakarmā serves Him, and the “all-worlds-formed” chariot symbolizes Shiva as the inner support and integrator of the entire cosmos (Pati) while remaining its sovereign.

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

Like the Liṅga, which signifies Shiva as the ground of all existence, the chariot described as “sarvalokamaya” points to the same truth in a visible, narrative form—helping devotees approach the transcendent (nirguṇa) through a devotional focus on the manifest Lord (saguṇa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the support of all worlds while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering reverence (ādara) in worship—such as with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa—mirroring the verse’s mood of careful, respectful devotion.