Shloka 21

ब्रह्माण्डदान-प्रशंसा तथा ब्रह्माण्ड-प्रमाण-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

यदा विजृम्भतेऽनंतो मदाघूर्णितलोचनः । तदा चलति भूरेषा साद्रितोयाधिकानना

Transliteration

yadā vijṛmbhate'naṃto madāghūrṇitalocanaḥ | tadā calati bhūreṣā sādritoyādhikānanā

Translation

Whenever Ananta (Śeṣa)—his eyes rolling as if intoxicated—stretches and expands, at that very moment this Earth, with her mountains, waters, and vast forests, begins to tremble and move.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• विजृम्भते: expands; yawns open
• विजृम्भते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जृम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अनन्तः: Ananta (the infinite serpent)
• अनन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मद-आघूर्णित-लोचनः: whose eyes are rolling due to intoxication
• मद-आघूर्णित-लोचनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + आघूर्णित (कृदन्त; आ + घूर्ण् धातु) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मदेन आघूर्णिते लोचने यस्य)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• चलति: moves; trembles
• चलति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक सर्वनाम

• स-अद्रि-तोय-अधिक-आनना: having (its) surface abounding in mountains and waters
• स-अद्रि-तोय-अधिक-आनना: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सा यस्याः आननं/मुखं अद्रि-तोयैः अधिकम् = पर्वत-जलैः अधिकयुक्तम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic quaking of the earth caused by Ananta/Śeṣa’s movement (mythic seismic event)

Characters & Entities

• Ananta (Shesha)
• Earth (Bhumi)

FAQs

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

It highlights the cosmic dependency of the world on supporting principles like Ananta, while implying that the supreme Lord (Śiva as Pati) transcends and governs all supports—showing the universe’s impermanence and the need to seek the unshakable refuge of Śiva.

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

The trembling of Earth contrasts worldly instability with the steadiness sought in Linga worship: the Linga symbolizes Śiva as the stable, all-pervading ground of being, approached in Saguna form for devotion yet pointing to His Nirguna transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate inner steadiness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and dhyāna on Śiva as the unmoving support, especially when reflecting on the changing, trembling nature of the cosmos.