Shloka 9

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

वेदस्मृतिपुराणाद्याः पारियात्रोद्भवा मुने । सर्वपापहरा ज्ञेया दर्शनात्स्पर्शनादपि

Transliteration

vedasmṛtipurāṇādyāḥ pāriyātrodbhavā mune | sarvapāpaharā jñeyā darśanātsparśanādapi

Translation

O sage, the Vedas, the Smṛtis, the Purāṇas, and other sacred teachings that have arisen from (or are connected with) Pāriyātra are to be known as destroyers of all sins—even by mere sight, and even by touch.

Word by Word

• वेद-स्मृति-पुराण-आद्याः: the Vedas, Smṛtis, Purāṇas and others (texts)
• वेद-स्मृति-पुराण-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्मृतिपुराणादयः)

• पारियात्र-उद्भवाः: arising from (Mount) Pāriyātra
• पारियात्र-उद्भवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारियात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पारियात्रात् उद्भवाः)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सर्व-पाप-हराः: removers of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-हराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पापानां हराः)

• ज्ञेयाः: to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; कृदन्तः—यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle: 'to be known')

• दर्शनात्: from seeing; by sight
• दर्शनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (cause)

• स्पर्शनात्: from touching; by touch
• स्पर्शनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (cause)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अर्थः—'also/even'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Attributes pāpa-kṣaya power to ‘Veda–Smṛti–Purāṇa’ traditions associated with Pāriyātra; functions like a kṣetra-māhātmya claim that sacred knowledge and its locus purify by contact (darśana/sparśa).

Significance: Positions scriptural hearing/seeing and kṣetra-contact as immediate purifiers—supporting tīrtha-yātrā and śāstra-śravaṇa as complementary means.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred revelation and its living presence—especially when connected to a holy Shaiva region like Pāriyātra—purifies the soul (pashu) by weakening impurity (mala) and wrongdoing (pāpa), even through simple devotional contact such as darśana (seeing) and sparśa (touching).

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna Shiva is approached through tangible means—darśana of the Linga, touching sacred objects, and receiving scripture. The verse affirms that such embodied encounters with Shiva’s dharma (Veda–Smṛti–Purāṇa) carry purifying grace, supporting Linga-centered devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek darśana and respectful touch/contact with Shaiva sanctities—visit a tirtha, receive and hear Purāṇa recitation, and combine it with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) for inner purification.