Shloka 72

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

अपां वृद्धिक्षयौ दृष्टौ शतशस्तु दशोत्तरम् । समुद्राणां मुनिश्रेष्ठो सर्वेषां कथितं तव

Transliteration

apāṃ vṛddhikṣayau dṛṣṭau śataśastu daśottaram | samudrāṇāṃ muniśreṣṭho sarveṣāṃ kathitaṃ tava

Translation

O best of sages, I have witnessed again and again—more than a hundred times—the increase and the decrease of the waters; and I have spoken to you of all the oceans.

Word by Word

• अपाम्: of the waters
• अपाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• वृद्धि-क्षयौ: increase and decrease
• वृद्धि-क्षयौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास — 'increase and decrease'

• दृष्टौ: (have been) seen
• दृष्टौ: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'seen/observed' (agreeing with वृद्धि-क्षयौ)

• शतशः: hundreds of times
• शतशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — 'hundreds of times'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle

• दश-उत्तरम्: ten more (i.e., plus ten)
• दश-उत्तरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (संख्यापूर्वक) — 'ten more' (i.e., 110 when added to 100)

• समुद्राणाम्: of the oceans
• समुद्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठः: O best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठः: सम्बोधन/कर्ता (Address/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी) — 'best among sages'

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural; pronominal adjective

• कथितम्: has been told
• कथितम्: क्रिया (Predicative/Passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'told/related'

• तव: to you/for you
• तव: सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (Recipient/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive; pronoun

Speaker

A senior sage-narrator (Uma Samhita discourse; inferred narrator addressing another sage)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: repeated observation of tidal increase/decrease across oceans

FAQs

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

It highlights the repeated cyclic change in nature (increase and decrease of waters), encouraging vairagya: the seeker turns from transient phenomena to Pati—Lord Shiva—who alone is steady and liberating.

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

By contrasting fluctuating nature with the unchanging Lord, it supports Linga-worship as a stable focus for devotion—Saguna Shiva as an accessible anchor leading the mind toward the Nirguna, transcendent Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation on impermanence, supported by simple Shaiva discipline such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady daily worship.