Shloka 2

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

भूमेर्योजनलक्षे तु संस्थितं रविमण्डलम् । योजनानां सहस्राणि सदैव परिसंख्यया

Transliteration

bhūmeryojanalakṣe tu saṃsthitaṃ ravimaṇḍalam | yojanānāṃ sahasrāṇi sadaiva parisaṃkhyayā

Translation

At a distance of one hundred thousand yojanas from the earth is stationed the orb of the Sun; its expanse is ever reckoned in thousands of yojanas.

Word by Word

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• योजन-लक्षे: at a lakh of yojanas
• योजन-लक्षे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (योजनानां लक्षम्)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• संस्थितम्: situated/placed
• संस्थितम्: विशेषण (of ravimaṇḍalam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थित’ = placed

• रवि-मण्डलम्: the solar orb
• रवि-मण्डलम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रवेः मण्डलम्)

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

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

• परि-संख्यया: by exact count
• परि-संख्यया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि-√ख्यै/ख्या (धातु) → संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘परिसंख्यया’ = by (exact) reckoning

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Purāṇic astronomical distance-setting: Sun at 100,000 yojanas from Earth

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Ravi)

FAQs

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

By presenting measured order in the cosmos, the Purana points to an intelligent, governed creation—part of Pāśa (the bound order)—within which the soul (paśu) should turn toward Śiva, the supreme Pati, for liberation beyond mere cosmic structure.

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

Cosmic descriptions in the Umāsaṃhitā frame the universe as Śiva’s regulated manifestation; worship of the Liṅga (Saguna focus) trains the mind to move from observing created order (like the Sun’s sphere) to contemplating the Lord who transcends and yet supports it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on the solar orb as a disciplined concentration aid, followed by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to shift awareness from the visible cosmic light to Śiva, the inner Light beyond all measures.