Shloka 34

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

Description of the Earth-Maṇḍala, the Seven Continents, and Meru

Devanagari script

भारतः केतुमालश्च भद्राश्वः कुरवस्तथा । पत्राणि लोकपद्मस्य मर्यादालोकपर्वताः

Transliteration

bhārataḥ ketumālaśca bhadrāśvaḥ kuravastathā | patrāṇi lokapadmasya maryādālokaparvatāḥ

Translation

Bhārata, Ketumāla, Bhadrāśva, and likewise the Kurus—these are the petals of the world-lotus; and the boundary mountains are the mountains that mark the limits of the worlds.

Word by Word

• भारतः: Bhārata (varṣa)
• भारतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• केतुमालः: Ketumāla (varṣa)
• केतुमालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• भद्राश्वः: Bhadrāśva (varṣa)
• भद्राश्वः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्राश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—भद्रः अश्वः इव/भद्राश्वः (कर्मधारय-संज्ञा)

• कुरवः: the Kurus
• कुरवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (adverb: ‘likewise/also’)

• पत्राणि: petals/leaves
• पत्राणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लोकपद्मस्य: of the world-lotus
• लोकपद्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—लोकस्य पद्मम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• मर्यादा-लोक-पर्वताः: boundary-mountains of the world
• मर्यादा-लोक-पर्वताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to ‘पत्राणि’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—मर्यादायाः लोकस्य पर्वताः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-परम्परा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s cosmography to the sages, within the Uma Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata
• Ketumāla
• Bhadrāśva
• Kuru

FAQs

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

It presents the cosmos as a “world-lotus,” a sacred mapping that supports contemplation: all regions and boundaries exist within the Lord’s ordered manifestation, while Shiva as Pati ultimately transcends these limits and grants liberation beyond worldly divisions.

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

Cosmic descriptions in the Purana are meant to steady the mind in saguna contemplation—seeing the universe as Shiva’s manifested order—so devotion can mature toward recognizing Shiva as the inner ruler beyond name, form, and geography, symbolized by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is dhyāna on the “world-lotus” as Shiva’s orderly manifestation, paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating detachment from regional/earthly identity and turning awareness to Pati, the Lord of all lokas.