Shloka 5

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

बुधस्तस्मादथो काव्यस्तस्माद्भौमस्य मण्डलम् । बृहस्पतिस्तदूर्ध्वं तु तस्योपरि शनैश्चरः

Transliteration

budhastasmādatho kāvyastasmādbhaumasya maṇḍalam | bṛhaspatistadūrdhvaṃ tu tasyopari śanaiścaraḥ

Translation

Above Budha (Mercury) is Kāvya (Venus); above Venus lies the sphere of Bhauma (Mars). Above that is Bṛhaspati (Jupiter), and above Jupiter is Śanaiścara (Saturn)—thus the Purāṇa describes the ordered ascent of the planetary circles.

Word by Word

• budhaḥ: Mercury (Budha)
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tasmāt: from that/thereafter
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्—पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) एकवचन of pronoun ‘tad’; used adverbially ‘from there/thereafter’

• atho: then
• atho: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय) + u (sandhi)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थ (then/and then)

• kāvyaḥ: Venus (Kāvya/Śukra)
• kāvyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāvya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (Śukra/Venus, called Kāvyā)

• tasmāt: from that/thereafter
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी एकवचन; अव्ययवत् ‘from that/thereafter’

• bhaumasya: of Mars (Bhauma)
• bhaumasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhauma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• maṇḍalam: the sphere/orbit
• maṇḍalam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (orb/sphere)

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Jupiter (Bṛhaspati)
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tad-ūrdhvam: above that
• tad-ūrdhvam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; नपुंसक-एकवचन-आकारेण अव्ययवत्—‘tasya ūrdhvam’ (above that) used adverbially

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• tasya: of that/of it
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• upari: above
• upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• śanaiścaraḥ: Saturn (Śanaiścara)
• śanaiścaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śanaiścara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: graha-krama (Purāṇic ordered ascent of planetary spheres)

Characters & Entities

• Budha (Mercury)
• Kavya/Shukra (Venus)
• Bhauma/Mangala (Mars)
• Brihaspati (Jupiter)
• Shanaischar (Saturn)

FAQs

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

It presents the cosmos as an ordered structure within bound existence (pāśa), reminding the seeker that even the highest planetary realms remain within karma’s domain, while liberation is attained by turning to Shiva, the Pati beyond all spheres.

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

By mapping the planetary hierarchy, the text implicitly contrasts created cosmic levels with the Linga as Shiva’s accessible Saguna support for worship—through which the devotee seeks grace that transcends worldly and celestial limitations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to stabilize the mind with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Shiva, rather than relying on planetary rites alone—seeking Shiva’s anugraha to loosen the bonds of karma.