Shloka 22

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

लक्षयोजनविस्तारस्समस्तपरिमण्डलः । जम्बूद्वीपो मया ख्यातः क्षारोदधिसुसंवृतः

Transliteration

lakṣayojanavistārassamastaparimaṇḍalaḥ | jambūdvīpo mayā khyātaḥ kṣārodadhisusaṃvṛtaḥ

Translation

Jambūdvīpa, perfectly circular in its entire expanse and measuring a hundred thousand yojanas in breadth, has thus been described by me as being well encircled by the ocean of salt.

Word by Word

• लक्ष-योजन-विस्तारः: (having) an extent of a lakh yojanas
• लक्ष-योजन-विस्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘लक्षयोजनः विस्तारः’ = having an extent of a lakh yojanas)

• समस्त-परिमण्डलः: entirely circular
• समस्त-परिमण्डलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + परिमण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘समस्तः परिमण्डलः’ = completely circular)

• जम्बू-द्वीपः: Jambūdvīpa
• जम्बू-द्वीपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बू (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘जम्ब्वाः द्वीपः’)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ख्यातः: is declared / is known
• ख्यातः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) ; ख्यात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) of √ख्या

• क्षार-उदधि-सु-संवृतः: well-enclosed by the salt ocean
• क्षार-उदधि-सु-संवृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक) + सु (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थक) + सम् + वृत (वृ धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘क्षारोदधिना सु-सम्यक् संवृतः’ = well-enclosed by the salt ocean)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (inferred: Umāsaṃhitā commonly frames Shiva’s instruction to Umā/Parvati on cosmos and dharma)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmographic teaching rather than a shrine-origin; Śiva speaks as cosmic lord describing the ordered world-system (dvīpa-samudra).

Significance: Frames the cosmos as Śiva’s manifestation/order, supporting dhyāna on the Lord as creator and governor beyond local geography.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmography of dvīpas and oceans within a kalpic world-order

Characters & Entities

• Jambudvipa
• Ksharodadhi (salt ocean)

FAQs

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

By mapping Jambūdvīpa and the salt ocean, Shiva presents the universe as an ordered field (jagat) governed by divine law; in Shaiva Siddhanta this supports the insight that the cosmos is real yet dependent, while Pati (Shiva) alone is the independent revealer and liberator.

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

Cosmographic teaching is a form of Saguna Shiva’s grace: the Linga symbolizes the axis of reality and Shiva as the ground of all worlds; knowing the world’s structure is meant to culminate in devotion and surrender to the Linga-bearing Lord rather than mere curiosity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the vast, circular cosmos as Shiva’s governed order and then center the mind on the Linga with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as aids to steadiness and remembrance.