Shloka 39

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

द्विगुणेन कुशद्वीपः समंताद्बाह्यतः स्थितः । वसंति तत्र दैतेया मनुजैस्सह दानवाः

Transliteration

dviguṇena kuśadvīpaḥ samaṃtādbāhyataḥ sthitaḥ | vasaṃti tatra daiteyā manujaissaha dānavāḥ

Translation

Encircling it on the outside, Kuśadvīpa lies as a land twice as extensive. There dwell the Daityas and Dānavas, together with human beings.

Word by Word

• द्विगुणेन: by twice (in measure)
• द्विगुणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्वौ गुणौ यस्य/द्विगुणः)

• कुशद्वीपः: Kuśa-dvīpa
• कुशद्वीपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कुश-नामकः द्वीपः)

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: on all sides)

• बाह्यतः: externally/from outside
• बाह्यतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाह्यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: outwardly/from outside)

• स्थितः: situated/placed
• स्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कुशद्वीपः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वसन्ति: they dwell
• वसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• दैतेयाः: Daityas (sons of Diti)
• दैतेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैतेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मनुजैः: with humans
• मनुजैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: with)

• दानवाः: Dānavas (demons)
• दानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmographic layering: Kuśadvīpa lies outside, twice in extent, inhabited by daityas/dānavas along with humans—showing mixed moral-spiritual conditions across realms.

Significance: Serves as a doctrinal reminder that embodiment and realm (loka/dvīpa) do not guarantee purity; devotion and right conduct are decisive for liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Danavas
• Humans
• Kushadvipa

FAQs

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

It places even vast cosmic regions within the realm of saṃsāra—inhabited by humans and powerful asuric lineages—implying that liberation depends not on location but on turning to Pati (Śiva) beyond the bonds (pāśa) that bind all beings.

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

By describing inhabited worlds with mixed natures (human and daitya/dānava), the text implicitly contrasts worldly domains with the stabilizing refuge of Saguna Śiva worship—especially Liṅga-upāsanā—which purifies the mind and directs it toward Śiva, the Lord of all realms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vairāgya (detachment) supported by daily Śiva-sādhana—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and, where traditional, wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma to remember Śiva amid the diversity of worldly conditions.