Shloka 77

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

आधारभूता सर्वेषां सर्वभूतगुणाधिका । सेयं धात्री च कालेय सर्वेषां जगतामिला

Transliteration

ādhārabhūtā sarveṣāṃ sarvabhūtaguṇādhikā | seyaṃ dhātrī ca kāleya sarveṣāṃ jagatāmilā

Translation

She is the support of all, surpassing all beings in auspicious qualities. She is indeed Dhātrī and Kāleyā, and she is Ilā—the sustaining Earth of all the worlds.

Word by Word

• आधार: support
• आधार: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• भूता: become/serving as support
• भूता: विशेषण (Adjective of ‘इयम्/धात्री’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘आधारभूता’ = तत्पुरुष (आधाररूपेण भूता)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• भूत: beings
• भूत: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• गुण: qualities
• गुण: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• अधिका: superior/exceeding
• अधिका: विशेषण (Adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सर्वभूतगुणाधिका’ = षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वभूतानां गुणेभ्यः अधिका)

• सा: she/that
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धात्री: supporter/nurse; Earth
• धात्री: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• कालेय: O Kāleya
• कालेय: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; संबोधननाम (vocative proper name/epithet)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• जगताम्: of worlds/creatures
• जगताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• इला: Ilā (Earth)
• इला: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; पृथिवी-पर्याय

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Earth praised as universal support (dhātrī/ilā) within Purāṇic cosmology

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse praises the Divine Feminine as the universal ground and sustainer—Shakti as the supporting power through which the worlds exist and are nourished, harmonized with Shaiva Siddhanta where Pati (Shiva) and Shakti function inseparably in cosmic order.

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

In Linga worship, devotees honor Shiva as Pati while recognizing Shakti as the sustaining power that makes creation and grace operative; this verse emphasizes that the Goddess—inseparable from Shiva—upholds the worlds, supporting Saguna devotion that sees the Divine active in the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva-Shakti unity while offering simple upacharas in Linga-puja (water, bilva leaves) and repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating the Goddess as the sustaining ground (Dhātrī/Ilā) beneath all experience.