Shloka 1

सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्र-वर्णनम् तथा प्रियव्रतवंश-राज्यविभागः

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे पातालवर्णनं नाम पञ्चचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच सप्तद्वीपा तथा पृथ्वी नदीपर्वतसंकुला समुद्रैः सप्तभिश्चैव सर्वतः समलंकृता

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge pātālavarṇanaṃ nāma pañcacatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca saptadvīpā tathā pṛthvī nadīparvatasaṃkulā samudraiḥ saptabhiścaiva sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtā

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, begins the forty-fifth chapter called “Description of Pātāla.” Sūta said: The Earth is formed of seven continents (dvīpas), filled with rivers and mountains, and adorned on every side by seven oceans—an ordered cosmos under the Lord (Pati), wherein bound souls (paśus) move beneath the fetters of bondage (pāśa) until they turn toward Śiva.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section

• pātāla-varṇanam: description of Pātāla (nether regions)

• nāma: named/called

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• sapta-dvīpā: seven continents

• tathā: and/also

• pṛthvī: the Earth

• nadī: rivers

• parvata: mountains

• saṃkulā: crowded/filled with

• samudraiḥ: by oceans

• saptabhiḥ: seven

• ca eva: and indeed

• sarvataḥ: on all sides

• samalaṃkṛtā: well-adorned/ornamented

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Prithvi (Earth)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos—dvīpas, mountains, rivers, and oceans—as Śiva’s ordered manifestation, preparing the devotee to see Liṅga-pūjā as worship of the Pati who pervades and governs all realms, including Pātāla.

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

Indirectly, it presents Shiva-tattva as the sovereign ground of cosmic order: the structured universe is not random but a regulated domain in which the paśu experiences pāśa until oriented toward the liberating Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this verse; the takeaway is contemplative—use cosmological reflection (bhāvanā) to cultivate reverence for Śiva as Pati, a foundation for Pāśupata-aligned devotion and disciplined practice.