Shloka 17

जम्बूद्वीपस्य नववर्षविभागः रुद्रस्य अष्टक्षेत्रसन्निधिः नाभि-ऋषभ-भरतकथा

Devanagari script

तेषां हिताय रुद्रेण चाष्टक्षेत्रं विनिर्मितम् तत्र तेषां महादेवः सान्निध्यं कुरुते सदा

Transliteration

teṣāṃ hitāya rudreṇa cāṣṭakṣetraṃ vinirmitam tatra teṣāṃ mahādevaḥ sānnidhyaṃ kurute sadā

Translation

Zu ihrem Heil errichtete Rudra den heiligen Kreis der acht Kṣetras. Dort weilt Mahādeva ihretwegen stets in lebendiger Nähe und schenkt unaufhörliche Gegenwart und Gnade.

Word by Word

• तेषाम् (teṣām): of them

• हिताय (hitāya): for the welfare/benefit

• रुद्रेण (rudreṇa): by Rudra

• च (ca): and

• अष्टक्षेत्रम् (aṣṭa-kṣetram): the eight sacred fields/holy sites

• विनिर्मितम् (vinirmitam): constructed/established

• तत्र (tatra): there

• तेषाम् (teṣām): for them/of them

• महादेवः (mahādevaḥ): Mahādeva (Shiva)

• सान्निध्यम् (sānnidhyam): nearness, immediate presence, sanctifying proximity

• कुरुते (kurute): makes/causes/maintains

• सदा (sadā): always.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Mahadeva
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames sacred kṣetras as Shiva-established supports for Linga-bhakti—places where Mahādeva’s sānnidhya is continuous, making worship especially efficacious for grace (anugraha).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is shown as Pati who freely manifests nearness (sānnidhya) for the good of devotees—his presence is not occasional but abiding, indicating compassionate lordship over Pashu bound by Pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Kṣetra-sevā and pilgrimage-centered Linga-pūjā are implied: approaching Shiva’s established holy sites to cultivate devotion, purification, and receptivity to Pāśupata-oriented grace.