Shloka 5

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

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

Devanagari script

चतुरशीतिमानैस्तैर्द्वात्रिंशन्मूर्ध्नि विस्तृतः । भूमिपृष्ठस्थशैलोऽयं विस्तरस्तस्य सर्वतः

Transliteration

caturaśītimānaistairdvātriṃśanmūrdhni vistṛtaḥ | bhūmipṛṣṭhasthaśailo'yaṃ vistarastasya sarvataḥ

Translation

Measured as eighty-four (units) in extent and spread as thirty-two (units) at its summit, this mountain stands upon the earth’s surface, expanding on all sides.

Word by Word

• चतुरशीतिः: eighty-four
• चतुरशीतिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुरशीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (eighty-four) समासाङ्ग

• मानैः: by measures
• मानैः: Karana (करण/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्वात्रिंशत्: thirty-two
• द्वात्रिंशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वात्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (त्रिलिङ्ग) संख्यावाचक (thirty-two), अव्ययवत्; समासाङ्ग

• मूर्ध्नि: at the top/on the summit
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विस्तृतः: expanded/spread
• विस्तृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + स्तृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भूमि: earth
• भूमि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• पृष्ठ: surface/back
• पृष्ठ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• स्थ: situated
• स्थ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; (स्थ = situated)

• शैलः: mountain
• शैलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (भूमिपृष्ठे स्थितः शैलः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विस्तरः: extent/breadth
• विस्तरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सर्वदिक्/सर्वतः (adverb: on all sides)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Meru’s breadth and summit-span as part of ordered cosmic geometry

FAQs

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

By giving precise dimensions of a sacred mountain, the Purana anchors spiritual teaching in a real kshetra, implying that devotion to Pati (Shiva) is supported by disciplined attention, order, and reverence for consecrated space.

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

Such geographic description typically frames a Shaiva sacred setting where Saguna Shiva is approached through a manifest locus (mountain/kshetra), preparing the devotee to worship the Linga with steadiness and clarity of place and purpose.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is kshetra-smaraṇa (contemplation of the sacred स्थल) before japa—mentally situating oneself in Shiva’s holy domain, then repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with focused, measured breath.