Shloka 18

ब्रह्माण्डदान-प्रशंसा तथा ब्रह्माण्ड-प्रमाण-वर्णनम्

Praise of the Gift of the Cosmic Egg and Description of the Brahmāṇḍa’s Measure

Devanagari script

आस्ते पातालमूलस्थस्स शेषः क्षितिमण्डलम् । बिभ्रत्स्वपृष्ठे भूतेशश्शेषोऽशेषगुणार्चितः

Transliteration

āste pātālamūlasthassa śeṣaḥ kṣitimaṇḍalam | bibhratsvapṛṣṭhe bhūteśaśśeṣo'śeṣaguṇārcitaḥ

Translation

At the very root of Pātāla abides Śeṣa, bearing the whole circle of the earth upon his own back. That Śeṣa—lordly among beings—is revered for his countless excellences.

Word by Word

• आस्ते: sits/dwells
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पाताल-मूल-स्थः: situated at the base of Pātāla
• पाताल-मूल-स्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पातालस्य मूले स्थितः’ (situated at the root of Pātāla)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शेषः: Śeṣa
• शेषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षिति-मण्डलम्: the earth-sphere
• क्षिति-मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘क्षितेः मण्डलम्’ (orb of the earth)

• बिभ्रत्: bearing/supporting
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• स्व-पृष्ठे: on his back
• स्व-पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘स्वस्य पृष्ठे’ (on his own back)

• भूतेशः: the Lord of beings
• भूतेशः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/identifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘भूतानाम् ईशः’ (lord of beings)

• शेषः: Śeṣa
• शेषः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/identifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति—सम्बोधन/समानााधिकरणार्थ

• अशेष-गुण-अर्चितः: praised/worshipped with all qualities
• अशेष-गुण-अर्चितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अशेषैः गुणैः अर्चितः’ (worshipped with all virtues/qualities)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, Uma Samhita philosophical-cosmic description context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic geography: Pātāla-mūla and earth-support motif

Characters & Entities

• Shesha (Ananta)

FAQs

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

It presents the cosmos as upheld by divinely appointed order—Śeṣa bears the earth—prompting devotion and humility: even the world rests on a higher sustaining principle, ultimately rooted in Pati (Śiva) beyond all supports.

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

Cosmic supports like Śeṣa are exalted yet still part of creation; Linga-worship directs the mind to Saguna Śiva as the immediate object of devotion and to Nirguna Śiva as the supreme reality behind all cosmic functions and guardians.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva as the ultimate ādhāra (support) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steadiness like Śeṣa and offering the weight of worldly anxiety into the Lord’s sustaining presence.