Shloka 34

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

विधिलोकात्परो लोको वैकुंठ इति विश्रुतः । विराजते महादीप्त्या यत्र विष्णुः प्रतिष्ठितः

Transliteration

vidhilokātparo loko vaikuṃṭha iti viśrutaḥ | virājate mahādīptyā yatra viṣṇuḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Translation

Beyond the world of Brahmā, the realm of cosmic ordinance, lies the world renowned as Vaikuṇṭha. It shines with immense splendor, and there Lord Viṣṇu is established upon His throne.

Word by Word

• विधिलोकात्: from Brahmā's world (Satyaloka)
• विधिलोकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: विधेः लोकः)

• परः: higher/superior
• परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (लोकः)

• लोकः: world
• लोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• वैकुण्ठः: Vaikuṇṭha
• वैकुण्ठः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नाम

• इति: thus/as
• इति: Quotation marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विश्रुतः: is renowned/called
• विश्रुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (लोकः)

• विराजते: shines
• विराजते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• महादीप्त्या: with great radiance
• महादीप्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + दीप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महती दीप्तिः)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितः: is established/abides
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे अर्थः (स्थापित/स्थित)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: loka-krama: Vaikuṇṭha positioned beyond Brahmaloka (vidhiloka)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It maps the graded cosmology: even exalted realms like Brahmaloka are surpassed by higher abodes. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such lokas remain within the sphere of bound existence (pāśa) unless one attains the Lord’s liberating grace leading beyond all conditioned worlds.

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

By showing that even Vaikuṇṭha is a luminous, defined realm, the text implicitly supports Saguna worship as a valid ascent while pointing further to Shiva as the supreme liberator (Pati) who grants final release beyond every loka—attained through Linga-bhakti, mantra, and right conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the impermanence and limitation of all lokas and intensify daily Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Tripuṇḍra with bhasma, and steady dhyāna on the Linga—seeking liberation rather than heavenly attainment.