Shloka 8

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

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

Devanagari script

सहस्रयोजनोत्सेधास्तावद्विस्तारिणश्च ते । भारतं प्रथमं वर्षं ततः किंपुरुषं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

sahasrayojanotsedhāstāvadvistāriṇaśca te | bhārataṃ prathamaṃ varṣaṃ tataḥ kiṃpuruṣaṃ smṛtam

Translation

Each of these regions is a thousand yojanas in height, and likewise a thousand yojanas in breadth. The first is known as Bhārata-varṣa; after it is spoken of the land called Kiṁpuruṣa.

Word by Word

• सहस्रयोजनउत्सेधाः: having a height of a thousand yojanas
• सहस्रयोजनउत्सेधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + योजन + उत्सेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सहस्रयोजनः उत्सेधः येषाम् = whose height is a thousand yojanas) विशेषण

• तावत्: to that extent; equally
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of measure: 'so much/as much')

• विस्तारिणः: broad; extensive
• विस्तारिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्तारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

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

• ते: they/those (mountains)
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• भारतम्: Bhārata (region)
• भारतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as name of a varṣa

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of वर्षम्)

• वर्षम्: region; division (varṣa)
• वर्षम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from there)

• किंपुरुषम्: Kiṃpuruṣa (region)
• किंपुरुषम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंपुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; varṣa-name

• स्मृतम्: is called; is known as
• स्मृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; in passive construction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-प्रत्यय (क्त/PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is called/considered)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata-varṣa
• Kiṁpuruṣa-varṣa

FAQs

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

By naming Bhārata-varṣa first and describing the ordered regions, the text frames the cosmos as a structured field for karma and dharma; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such ordered creation (pāśa) is the arena in which the bound soul (paśu) matures toward Shiva (Pati) through right living and devotion.

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

While the verse is cosmological, Bhārata-varṣa is traditionally presented as the primary land where temple worship, pilgrimage, and Linga-upāsanā are accessible; sacred geography supports Saguna Shiva devotion through tīrthas, kṣetras, and established ritual life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to sanctify one’s life in Bhārata-varṣa through daily Shiva practice—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra with bhasma, and Rudrākṣa dhāraṇa—using the human birth as the foremost opportunity for liberation.