Shloka 68

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

एवं द्वीपास्समुद्रैस्तु सप्त सप्तभिरावृताः । द्वीपाश्चैव समुद्राश्च समाना द्विगुणैः परैः

Transliteration

evaṃ dvīpāssamudraistu sapta saptabhirāvṛtāḥ | dvīpāścaiva samudrāśca samānā dviguṇaiḥ paraiḥ

Translation

Thus each continent (dvīpa) is enclosed by seven oceans. The continents and the oceans correspond in extent, each successive one being twice the measure of the one before.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• द्वीपाः: islands
• द्वीपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• समुद्रैः: by/with oceans
• समुद्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; द्वीपाः इति पदस्य विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• सप्तभिः: by seven (i.e., by seven [oceans])
• सप्तभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समुद्रैः इति पदस्य विशेषण

• आवृताः: are surrounded/covered
• आवृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘द्वीपाः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण

• द्वीपाः: islands
• द्वीपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: just/indeed)

• समुद्राः: oceans
• समुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• समानाḥ: equal, of the same measure
• समानाḥ: Visheshya (विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘द्वीपाः…समुद्राः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• द्विगुणैः: by double measures; doubled
• द्विगुणैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numeral compound) ‘द्वि-गुण’; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; परैः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• परैः: by the succeeding/next (ones)
• परैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; तुलना/अधिक्ये साधनभाव (instrumental of comparison/measure)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmographic teaching within the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Sapta-dvīpa / sapta-samudra cosmology with doubling measures (dviguṇa-vistāra)

FAQs

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

It presents a structured cosmic order—dvīpas and oceans increasing in measure—so the seeker recognizes the vastness yet boundedness of the world (pāśa) and turns inward toward Pati (Śiva), the liberator beyond all measures.

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

Cosmography frames creation as an ordered manifestation, but Shaiva teaching culminates in worship of Śiva as the inner ruler of all realms; the Liṅga signifies that same all-pervading Lord who transcends the layered worlds while graciously appearing in saguna form for devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice contemplative detachment (vairāgya) by reflecting on the vast, expanding layers of the cosmos, then center the mind on the Panchākṣarī—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—as the direct means to transcend worldly bounds.