Shloka 23

ब्रह्माण्डदान-प्रशंसा तथा ब्रह्माण्ड-प्रमाण-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

तलं तलातलं चाग्र्यं पातालं सप्तमं मतम् । भूमेरधस्सप्त लोका इमे ज्ञेया विचक्षणैः

Transliteration

talaṃ talātalaṃ cāgryaṃ pātālaṃ saptamaṃ matam | bhūmeradhassapta lokā ime jñeyā vicakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

Below the earth are these seven realms, which the discerning should understand: Tala, Talātala, and the excellent lower regions, with Pātāla regarded as the seventh.

Word by Word

• तलम्: Tala
• तलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तलातलम्: Talātala
• तलातलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक) + अतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (तल + अतल)

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

• अग्र्यम्: foremost
• अग्र्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'पातालम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (as 'chief/foremost')

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

• सप्तमम्: seventh
• सप्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• मतम्: considered
• मतम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-सामानाधिकरण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'is considered'

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अधः: below
• अधः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: below)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषणम्; 'लोकाः' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लोकाः: worlds/realms
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• इमे: these
• इमे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'लोकाः' इत्यस्य विशेषणवत् निर्देशः

• ज्ञेयाः: to be known; should be known
• ज्ञेयाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सामानाधिकरण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषणम्

• विचक्षणैः: by the discerning (people)
• विचक्षणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It places the nether realms within Shiva’s ordered cosmos, reminding the seeker that all lokas—high or low—remain within the field of pasha (bondage) unless one turns toward Pati, Lord Shiva, for liberating knowledge.

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

By mapping the worlds below the earth, the text implicitly contrasts limited cosmic regions with the Linga as Shiva’s all-pervading presence; worship of Saguna Shiva through the Linga centers the mind on the transcendent Lord who surpasses every loka.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is loka-viveka (discernment): during japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplate that Shiva alone is the refuge beyond all realms, cultivating detachment rather than fascination with cosmic levels.