Shloka 21

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

दशगुणेन पयसा सर्वतस्तत्समावृतम् । वह्निना वायुना चापि नभसा तमसा तथा

Transliteration

daśaguṇena payasā sarvatastatsamāvṛtam | vahninā vāyunā cāpi nabhasā tamasā tathā

Translation

That cosmic expanse was enveloped on all sides by water increased tenfold; and likewise it was covered by fire, by wind, by ether, and by darkness as well.

Word by Word

• daśa-guṇena: by tenfold (measure)
• daśa-guṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (daśa guṇāḥ yasya/tasya)

• payasā: by water/liquid
• payasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/दिक्-अव्यय

• tat: that (it)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• samāvṛtam: covered/enclosed
• samāvṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vahninā: by fire
• vahninā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• vāyunā: by wind
• vāyunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• nabhasā: by sky/ether
• nabhasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• tamasā: by darkness
• tamasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Brahmāṇḍa coverings by successive bhūta-tanmātra-like layers (water, fire, wind, ether) and tamas (darkness/avidyā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the soul’s world-experience as surrounded by layers of elemental and tamasic coverings—an image of pāśa (bondage). Liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta is to transcend these coverings through Shiva’s grace and right knowledge.

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

The Linga represents Shiva as the transcendent Pati who is not limited by elemental layers. Worship of the Linga trains the mind to move from the covered, conditioned universe toward the unconditioned reality of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating the withdrawal of attention from the gross elements into inner stillness; support this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of dispassion and Shiva-centered awareness.