Shloka 33

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

सप्तवर्षाणि तत्रैव तेषां नामानि मे शृणु । श्वेतोऽथ हरितश्चैव जीमूतो रोहितस्तथा

Transliteration

saptavarṣāṇi tatraiva teṣāṃ nāmāni me śṛṇu | śveto'tha haritaścaiva jīmūto rohitastathā

Translation

“There itself are seven rains/years; listen to their names from me: Śveta, Harita, Jīmūta, and likewise Rohita.”

Word by Word

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण; (varṣāṇi-विशेषण)

• वर्षाणि: regions/varṣas
• वर्षाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: just/indeed)

• तेषाम्: of those
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थ्यर्थे (to me)

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्वेतः: Śveta (name)
• श्वेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नामरूपेण)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• हरितः: Harita (name)
• हरितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नामरूपेण)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• जीमूतः: Jīmūta (name)
• जीमूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीमूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नामरूपेण)

• रोहितः: Rohita (name)
• रोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नामरूपेण)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (and likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Cosmographic naming functions as contemplative mapping of Īśvara’s ordered creation; śravaṇa of cosmic order is treated as dharmic merit in Purāṇas.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Description of varṣa-divisions (regions/‘years/rains’) within a dvīpa

FAQs

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

It frames natural cycles (like rains/seasons) as ordered realities within Shiva’s governance—nature functions as pāśa (the bound order) under Pati (Shiva), encouraging reverence for dharma and cosmic rhythm.

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

By naming and systematizing cosmic phenomena, the text points to Saguna Shiva as the Lord of manifest order; Linga-worship honors that same supreme principle as the stable axis behind changing names and forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mindful japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating the ordered flow of time and nature as Shiva’s śakti—cultivating steadiness and devotion.