Shloka 22

ब्रह्माण्डदान-प्रशंसा तथा ब्रह्माण्ड-प्रमाण-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

दशसाहस्रमेकैकं पातालं मुनि सत्तम । अतलं वितलं चैव सुतलं च रसातलम्

Transliteration

daśasāhasramekaikaṃ pātālaṃ muni sattama | atalaṃ vitalaṃ caiva sutalaṃ ca rasātalam

Translation

O best of sages, each of the nether regions (Pātālas) extends for ten thousand yojanas: namely Atala, Vitala, Sutala, and Rasātala.

Word by Word

• दश-साहस्रम्: ten thousand
• दश-साहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (दश साहस्राणि = ten-thousand)

• एक-एकम्: each (one)
• एक-एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-द्वन्द्वः (each one)

• पातालम्: Pātāla (netherworld)
• पातालम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुनि: O sage
• मुनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• सत्तम: best
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; 'मुनि' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अतलम्: Atala
• अतलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वितलम्: Vitala
• वितलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सुतलम्: Sutala
• सुतलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रसातलम्: Rasātala
• रसातलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Pātāla
• Atala
• Vitala
• Sutala
• Rasātala

FAQs

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

It situates the devotee within Shiva Purana cosmology, showing that even vast subterranean realms are measured and contained within the Lord’s order—encouraging detachment and turning the mind toward Pati (Shiva), who alone transcends all lokas.

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

By describing the structured cosmos, the text implies that Saguna Shiva, worshipped as the Linga, is the immanent ruler sustaining every realm—from heavens to Pātālas—while the devotee seeks His grace to rise beyond worldly stratifications.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is loka-śuddhi bhāvanā during japa: perform Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) repetition while contemplating that all worlds are within Shiva’s governance, cultivating vairāgya; optionally support with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids to steadiness.