Chapter 8 of 59 · Rudra Samhita - Yuddha Khanda · Overall chapter 178 of 464
Description of the Chariot
The famous cosmic-allegory chariot: sun and moon as wheels, Meru as the base, the year as its speed, the Vedas as its horses, Brahma as charioteer, Mount Mandara as the bow, the serpent-lord as the bowstring, Vishnu himself as the arrow, and the whole of creation - oceans, mountains, rivers, directions, senses, scriptures - supplying every remaining part.
Vyasa said
Sanatkumara, omniscient one, supreme among Shiva's devotees, you have let me hear a wonderful account of Paramesha. Now tell me of the building of the supreme chariot that held all the gods, which clever Vishvakarma made for Shiva.
Suta continued
The lord among sages heard Vyasa. Sanatkumara remembered Shiva's lotus feet and replied.
Sanatkumara answered
Vyasa, wise one, remembering Shiva's lotus feet, I will tell, as far as my understanding goes, how Vishvakarma built the chariot for the divinity Rudra. Lovingly and attentively he made a divine chariot that held all the worlds and was honoured by all. It was of gold and contained all the elements. Its right wheel was the sun, its left the moon. Indra among brahmanas, the right wheel had twelve spokes, ruled by the twelve Adityas; the left had sixteen spokes, ruled by the moon's sixteen digits; the nakshatras decorated the left. The six seasons were the rims, the sky made the joints and Mandara formed the interior. The Udaya and Asta mountains were its two poles. Great Meru was the base, supported by the Keshara mountains. The year was its speed and the two ayanas fixed the wheels. Muhurtas were the joints of the wheels, kalas the pins of the yoke, kashthas the nose, kshanas the shafts, nimeshas the floor, anulavas the poles. The firmament was its bumper, heaven and liberation its standards. Bhramaka and Kamadudha were the ends of the yoke. Manifest intelligence was the chariot's shaft and unmanifest intelligence its reeds. The corners were ahamkara, and the elements were its strength. The senses were ornaments on every side. Supreme among sages, faith was its movement. The six Vedangas were ornaments, and the Puranas and the texts on nyaya, mimamsa and dharma were lesser ornaments. Strong, excellent mantras with all the auspicious marks became its covering, together with their letters, quatrains and the effort of reciting them. Ananta with his thousand hoods was the fastening. The directions and sub-directions supported the chariot. Pushkara and the others were the flags, golden and jewelled. The oceans were the four bulls that drew it. Ganga and the other best rivers, adorned with every ornament, took the shape of women with whisks in their hands and stood in various places making the chariot beautiful. The seven, Avaha and the rest, were the golden steps. Mount Lokaloka in every direction formed the minor steps. Manasa and the other lakes were the lovely cross-steps outside. The Varshachalas were its bonds in every direction. The dwellers of the nether worlds made up the chariot's bottom. The divinity Bhagavan Brahma was the charioteer holding the reins. Pranava, the brahman's divinity, became the whip. The letter "A" was the great umbrella. At its side Mandara held a staff. The Indra among mountains was the bow and the serpent lord himself the bowstring. Devi Sarasvati, in the form of the shrutis, became the bells on the bow. Immensely energetic Vishnu became the arrows and Agni the spear. Sage, the nigama texts were its four horses. The supreme stellar bodies became the remaining ornaments. The army sprang from poison. The winds were the mounts, driven by Vyasa and other rishis. Lord among sages, why say more? I have told it briefly. Everything in the universe found a place in the chariot. So, by Brahma's and Vishnu's auspicious command, intelligent Vishvakarma perfectly made the chariot and its accompaniments.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.