Shloka 73

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

भोजनं पुष्करद्वीपे प्रजास्सर्वाः सदैव हि । खंडस्य कुर्वते विप्र तत्र स्वयमुपस्थितम्

Transliteration

bhojanaṃ puṣkaradvīpe prajāssarvāḥ sadaiva hi | khaṃḍasya kurvate vipra tatra svayamupasthitam

Translation

O Brahmin, on Puṣkara-dvīpa all beings indeed always partake of their food; for there, the very portion allotted to them is present of its own accord.

Word by Word

• भोजनम्: food/meal
• भोजनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative

• पुष्कर-द्वीपे: in Puṣkara-dvīpa
• पुष्कर-द्वीपे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी) — 'in Puṣkara island/continent'

• प्रजाः: people/subjects
• प्रजाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — 'all' (agreeing with प्रजाः)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• खण्डस्य: of the region/section
• खण्डस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive

• कुर्वते: they do/make
• कुर्वते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• स्वयम्: by themselves
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक (reflexive/emphatic)

• उपस्थितम्: present/available
• उपस्थितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'present/available' (qualifying भोजनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Puṣkara is famed as a tīrtha of Brahmā; in Śaiva reading, effortless provision of ‘allotted share’ mirrors Īśvara’s niyati (dispensation) sustaining beings.

Significance: Bathing and worship at Puṣkara is traditionally said to yield puṇya; here the motif highlights divine sustenance and karmic allotment (bhāga) as part of cosmic order.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mythic geography of Puṣkara-dvīpa with spontaneous availability of sustenance

Characters & Entities

• Puṣkara-dvīpa

FAQs

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

It points to a divinely sustained cosmic order where necessities arise according to one’s allotted share, hinting that the universe functions under the governance of Pati (Śiva), not merely by individual striving.

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

By depicting an ordered, sustaining presence behind creation, it supports Saguna Śiva as the Lord who upholds the worlds; Linga-worship trains the mind to recognize that sustaining power as Śiva’s immanent grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice offering food (naivedya) to Śiva before eating and mentally dedicate your ‘share’ to Him with the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as gratitude for divinely provided sustenance.