Shloka 23

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

संवेष्ट्य क्षारमुदधिं शतसाहस्रसम्मितम् । ततो हि द्विगुणो ब्रह्मन्प्लक्षद्वीपः प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

saṃveṣṭya kṣāramudadhiṃ śatasāhasrasammitam | tato hi dviguṇo brahmanplakṣadvīpaḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

Encircled by the salt ocean, whose extent is said to be a hundred thousand yojanas, the Plakṣa continent, O Brahman, is declared to be twice that size.

Word by Word

• संवेष्ट्य: having surrounded/encircled
• संवेष्ट्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√वेṣ्ट् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), परस्मैपदी; अव्ययभावेन क्रियाविशेषणम्

• क्षारम्: saline
• क्षारम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• उदधिम्: ocean
• उदधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• शतसाहस्रसम्मितम्: measured as one hundred thousand (yojanas etc.)
• शतसाहस्रसम्मितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + साहस्र + सम्मित (प्रातिपदिक; √मा (धातु) + सम् उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (शतसाहस्रैः सम्मितम् = measured by a hundred thousand)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययप्रकारः—सम्बन्ध/क्रमवाचक (thereupon/then)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed

• द्विगुणः: twofold/double
• द्विगुणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (द्विगुणः = twofold)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्लक्षद्वीपः: Plakṣa-dvīpa (the island/continent named Plakṣa)
• प्लक्षद्वीपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (प्लक्षस्य द्वीपः)

• प्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed/declared
• प्रकीर्तितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (प्रकीर्तित)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः (is proclaimed/said)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; continues dvīpa-samudra cosmography (Plakṣadvīpa doubling pattern).

Significance: Supports contemplative ‘cosmic pilgrimage’ (mānasa-yātrā) by mapping sacred cosmology as Śiva’s ordered manifestation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kalpic world-structure: dvīpa expansion sequence

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Plaksha-dvipa
• Kshara-udadhi

FAQs

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

It situates spiritual life within a divinely ordered cosmos: knowing the measured, layered structure of creation supports humility and steadiness, turning the mind from worldly vastness toward the Supreme Lord Shiva as the transcendent Pati beyond all worlds.

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

By describing the created realms (dvipas and oceans), the text implicitly contrasts the finite universe with Shiva’s infinite reality; Linga-worship centers the devotee on Saguna Shiva as the accessible focus through which one transcends the cosmic layers and attains liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the vast yet limited nature of the cosmos and then practice Shiva-dhyana with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids to steadiness and detachment.