Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नवसरे व्योम्नि समाविरभवद्रथः । सहस्रसूर्यसंकाशश्चारुचीरवृषध्वजः

Transliteration

tasminnavasare vyomni samāvirabhavadrathaḥ | sahasrasūryasaṃkāśaścārucīravṛṣadhvajaḥ

Translation

就在那一刻，虚空中显现一乘宝车，光辉如千日齐照，旌旗绘有圣牛之徽，并以华美衣饰庄严。

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronominal; Locative singular

• अवसरे: occasion, time
• अवसरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• व्योम्नि: in the sky
• व्योम्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• समाविरभवत्: appeared, manifested
• समाविरभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √वृ (धातु) / √भू (धातु) (पाठभेद-संभाव्य)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘appeared/manifested’ (सम्-आ-वि-रभवत्)

• रथः: a chariot
• रथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सहस्रसूर्यसंकाशः: radiant like a thousand suns
• सहस्रसूर्यसंकाशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + सूर्य + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘सहस्राणां सूर्याणां संकाशः’ (like a thousand suns); Nominative singular masculine

• चारुचीरवृषध्वजः: (he) whose banner bears a bull, wearing beautiful garments
• चारुचीरवृषध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारु + चीर + वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘यस्य ध्वजः वृषः (वृषचिह्नः) सः’ with qualifier ‘चारुचीर-’ (having beautiful garments); Nominative singular masculine

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A theophanic ‘appearance in the sky’ motif: the divine chariot manifests at the crisis-point, signaling Śiva’s sovereign intervention and the turning of conflict toward resolution under His ordinance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s anugraha (grace) through visible manifestation: the Supreme Pati, though beyond form, reveals a Saguna presence to uplift beings, dispel inner darkness, and establish faith in the path of liberation.

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

The brilliance “like a thousand suns” echoes Shiva’s transcendent reality, while “Vrishadhvaja” points to his approachable Saguna aspect; thus it supports both Linga-worship (symbol of the formless) and devotion to Shiva’s manifest form (for relational bhakti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s jyoti (inner light) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing the Lord as Vrishadhvaja; this is especially fitting for Mahashivratri night contemplation.