Shloka 46

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

द्विगुणेन समुद्रेण दधिमंडेन चावृतः । वर्षाचला महाबुद्धे तेषां नामानि मे शृणु

Transliteration

dviguṇena samudreṇa dadhimaṃḍena cāvṛtaḥ | varṣācalā mahābuddhe teṣāṃ nāmāni me śṛṇu

Translation

O great-minded one, the Varṣa-mountains are enclosed by a sea that is double in measure, and also by an ocean of curd (dadhi). Now hear from me their names.

Word by Word

• dviguṇena: twofold/double
• dviguṇena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dviguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु-समास: dvi + guṇa (‘twofold’) qualifying samudreṇa

• samudreṇa: by/with the ocean
• samudreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadhimaṇḍena: by/with whey/curd-essence
• dadhimaṇḍena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष (दध्नः मण्डः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• āvṛtaḥ: covered/surrounded
• āvṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + √vṛ (वृ) (धातु) → āvṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• varṣācalāḥ: the Varṣa-mountains
• varṣācalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष (वर्षस्य अचलाः)

• mahābuddhe: O great-minded one
• mahābuddhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘O great-intellect’

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nāmāni: names
• nāmāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (नामन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• me: to me/for me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (चतुर्थी/4) or Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); enclitic pronoun

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Second person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as an ordered manifestation under Pati (Shiva), where even geography reflects divine measure and law (ṛta), guiding the seeker to see the world as Shiva’s regulated domain rather than mere material chance.

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

By describing Shiva as the revealer of cosmic structure and names, the verse supports Saguna devotion: the Lord who can be worshiped in form (including the Linga) is also the intelligent governor who discloses the world’s sacred arrangement to devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and contemplative remembrance of Shiva as the inner ruler of the cosmos, ideally paired with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to internalize that order.