Shloka 36

Adhyaya 49: जम्बूद्वीप-मेर्वादि-वर्षपर्वत-वन-सरः-रुद्रक्षेत्र-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

वैभ्राजं पश्चिमे विद्याद् उत्तरे सवितुर्वनम् मित्रेश्वरं तु पूर्वे तु षष्ठेश्वरम् अतः परम्

Transliteration

vaibhrājaṃ paścime vidyād uttare saviturvanam mitreśvaraṃ tu pūrve tu ṣaṣṭheśvaram ataḥ param

Translation

Know Vaibhrāja to be in the western quarter; in the north lies the grove of Savitṛ. In the east is Mitreśvara, and beyond that is Ṣaṣṭheśvara. Thus the sacred abodes of Pati (Śiva) are indicated by direction for the devotee’s worship.

Word by Word

• वैभ्राजम् (vaibhrājam): Vaibhrāja (a sacred Śiva-site/linga)

• पश्चिमे (paścime): in the west

• विद्याद् (vidyāt): one should know/understand

• उत्तरे (uttare): in the north

• सवितुः (savituḥ): of Savitṛ (the solar deity)

• वनम् (vanam): grove/forest

• मित्रेश्वरम् (mitreśvaram): Mitreśvara (Śiva as Lord of Mitra)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• पूर्वे (pūrve): in the east

• षष्ठेश्वरम् (ṣaṣṭheśvaram): Ṣaṣṭheśvara (a named Śiva-linga/shrine)

• अतः परम् (ataḥ param): beyond this/thereafter

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the tirtha and linga-sthana mapping to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Savitri (Savitṛ)
• Mitra

FAQs

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

It maps specific Śiva-abodes (linga-sthānas) to the cardinal directions, guiding devotees to orient pilgrimage and dik-pūjā so worship is performed in harmony with sacred geography.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the supreme Lord who manifests as many named forms (Īśvaras) across directions, allowing pashus (souls) bound by pāśa to approach Him through concrete, accessible sacred seats.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Directional reverence (dik-sambandha) in pūjā and tīrtha-yātrā is emphasized—using spatial orientation to steady devotion and support Pāśupata discipline through regulated worship and pilgrimage.