Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot

Pre-battle Portents

Devanagari script

अथाधः स रथस्यास्य भगवान्धरणीधरः । वृषेन्द्ररूपी चोत्थाय स्थापयामास वै क्षणम्

Transliteration

athādhaḥ sa rathasyāsya bhagavāndharaṇīdharaḥ | vṛṣendrarūpī cotthāya sthāpayāmāsa vai kṣaṇam

Translation

随后，在那战车之下，蒙福的主——大地的支持者——以雄壮大牛之形腾起，顷刻间将战车稳稳托住。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• अधः: below/downwards
• अधः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• रथस्य: of the chariot
• रथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• धरणीधरः: the earth-bearer (mountain/holder of earth)
• धरणीधरः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• वृषेन्द्ररूपी: having the form of a bull-lord
• वृषेन्द्ररूपी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषेन्द्र + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

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

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle)

• स्थापयामास: set/placed/established
• स्थापयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (parasmaipada), णिजन्त (causative)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कालावधि-अर्थे (duration)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: avatāra-like manifestation: Lord becomes the ‘support’ beneath the chariot

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva as Dharaṇīdhara, the cosmic supporter who intervenes directly to restore stability—teaching that divine grace upholds dharma when worldly supports fail.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva—Shiva taking a perceivable form (as a mighty bull) to protect and steady the situation, affirming that the same Supreme Reality worshipped as the Linga also acts compassionately in manifest forms for devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner support (ādhāra) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating surrender and steadiness; offer vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder that Shiva alone is the true foundation.