Shloka 6

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

सप्तर्षिमण्डलं तस्माल्लक्षेणैकेन संस्थितम् । ऋषिभ्य तु सहस्राणां शतादूर्ध्वं ध्रुवः स्थितः

Transliteration

saptarṣimaṇḍalaṃ tasmāllakṣeṇaikena saṃsthitam | ṛṣibhya tu sahasrāṇāṃ śatādūrdhvaṃ dhruvaḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

From that region, at a distance of one lakh (yojanas), lies the sphere of the Seven Sages (Saptarṣi). Above the sages, by one hundred thousand (yojanas), Dhruva stands fixed—steadfast as the cosmic pivot.

Word by Word

• सप्तर्षि-मण्डलम्: the constellation/orb of the Seven Sages
• सप्तर्षि-मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘सप्तर्षीणां मण्डलम्’

• तस्मात्: from that (place/point)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचन

• लक्षेण: by a lakh (100,000)
• लक्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• एकेन: by one
• एकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of ‘लक्षेण’

• संस्थितम्: is situated/placed
• संस्थितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थित’ अर्थे

• ऋषिभ्यः: from the sages
• ऋषिभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative) बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• सहस्राणाम्: of thousands
• सहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचन

• शतात्: from a hundred
• शतात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above/upwards
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ध्रुवः: Dhruva (Pole Star)
• ध्रुवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन

• स्थितः: is situated
• स्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्थित’ = ‘is positioned’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: dhruva-sthānatva (Pole Star as cosmic pivot); Purāṇic measures in yojanas

Characters & Entities

• Saptarishi
• Dhruva

FAQs

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

By placing Dhruva above the Saptarishis as the fixed pivot, the verse presents steadiness (dhruvatva) as a spiritual ideal—mirroring the Shaiva Siddhanta aim of unwavering orientation toward Pati (Shiva) beyond the changing world.

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

The cosmic “fixed point” imagery supports Saguna contemplation: as the mind holds to a single support (ālambana), devotees fix awareness on Shiva’s Linga-form to transcend fluctuation and approach the stable reality of Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhāraṇā (steady fixation): sit facing north, mentally hold the Pole Star as a symbol of unwavering resolve, and repeat the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to stabilize attention.