Shloka 9

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

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

Devanagari script

हरिवर्षं ततो ऽन्यद्वै मेरोर्दक्षिणतो मुने । रम्यकं चोत्तरे पार्श्वे तस्यांशे तु हिरण्मयम्

Transliteration

harivarṣaṃ tato 'nyadvai merordakṣiṇato mune | ramyakaṃ cottare pārśve tasyāṃśe tu hiraṇmayam

Translation

O sage, to the south of Mount Meru lies another region called Harivarṣa. On the northern side is Ramyaka; and within that very division is the land known as Hiraṇmaya.

Word by Word

• हरिवर्षम्: Harivarṣa (region)
• हरिवर्षम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरेः वर्षम् = Hari-varṣa)

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

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied वर्षम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; indeed/emphasis)

• मेरोः: of Meru
• मेरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• दक्षिणतः: to the south (of)
• दक्षिणतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिणतः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिक्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (directional adverb: 'to the south of')

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

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

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

• उत्तरे: on the northern
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of पार्श्वे)

• पार्श्वे: side; flank
• पार्श्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• अंशे: in the portion/part
• अंशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; but/indeed)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Harivarsha
• Ramyaka
• Hiranmaya

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as an ordered manifestation upheld by Pati (Śiva), encouraging the seeker to see geography and creation as part of divine law (dharma) rather than mere material space.

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

By describing the structured world around Meru, the text implicitly points to Saguna Śiva as the Lord who sustains cosmic order; Linga-worship centers the mind on that sustaining Reality within all realms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is svādhyāya (devotional recitation) of the Purana with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Śiva as the inner support of all worlds and directions.