Shloka 67

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्निवसते ब्रह्मा पूज्यमानस्सुरासुरैः । स्वादूदकेनांबुधिना पुष्करः परिवेष्टितः

Transliteration

tasminnivasate brahmā pūjyamānassurāsuraiḥ | svādūdakenāṃbudhinā puṣkaraḥ pariveṣṭitaḥ

Translation

There Brahmā dwells, worshipped by both the devas and the asuras; and Puṣkara is encircled by an ocean of sweet waters.

Word by Word

• tasmin: in that (place)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka-sādhāraṇa, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative), Ekavacana

• nivasate: dwells/resides
• nivasate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (वस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana

• pūjyamānaḥ: being worshipped
• pūjyamānaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Present passive participle (शानच्/मान) in passive sense; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with brahmā

• sura-asuraiḥ: by gods and demons
• sura-asuraiḥ: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) compound; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental), Bahuvacana

• svādu-udakena: with sweet water
• svādu-udakena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādu (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental), Ekavacana

• ambu-dhinā: by the ocean
• ambu-dhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक, 'holder')
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (upapada: 'holder of waters' = ocean) compound; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental), Ekavacana

• puṣkaraḥ: Puṣkara (the place/lake)
• puṣkaraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana

• pariveṣṭitaḥ: surrounded/encircled
• pariveṣṭitaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√veṣṭ (वेष्ट् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with puṣkaraḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Brahmā’s residence at Puṣkara and universal worship (devas/asuras) underscores Puṣkara’s pan-cosmic sanctity; not a Jyotirliṅga narrative.

Significance: Tīrtha-snāna and darśana associated with purification and dharma-siddhi; emphasizes harmony of cosmic orders (even opposing classes worship).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Purāṇic ‘sweet-water ocean’ (svādūdaka-samudra) encircling dvīpa—cosmological hydrology

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Asuras
• Pushkara

FAQs

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

It highlights the sanctity of a divinely charged place (Puṣkara) where even Brahmā is honored, indicating that sacred geography supports devotion and purification when aligned with dharma and reverence for the divine order under Pati (Śiva).

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

Though the verse names Brahmā and Puṣkara, the Umāsaṃhitā commonly frames such tīrthas as supportive contexts for saguna-upāsanā—pilgrimage, worship, and ritual purity that culminate in deeper devotion to Śiva, the supreme Lord beyond all deities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage-style worship: bathe in sacred waters with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), then perform respectful pūjā; the verse especially suggests tīrtha-snana and devotional reverence as the practical takeaway.