Shloka 2

Śivakṣetra–Tīrtha–Māhātmya

The Salvific Function of Shiva’s Sacred Domains

Devanagari script

पंचाशत्कोटिविस्तीर्णा सशैलवनकानना । शिवाज्ञया हि पृथिवी लोकं धृत्वा च तिष्ठति

Transliteration

paṃcāśatkoṭivistīrṇā saśailavanakānanā | śivājñayā hi pṛthivī lokaṃ dhṛtvā ca tiṣṭhati

Translation

Spread across fifty crores in extent, adorned with mountains, forests, and groves—this Earth, by Śiva’s command alone, bears the worlds and remains steadfast.

Word by Word

• पञ्चाशत्-कोटि-विस्तीर्णा: spread over fifty crores (of yojanas, etc.)
• पञ्चाशत्-कोटि-विस्तीर्णा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; qualifier of ‘पृथिवी’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या; प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त; √स्तॄ/√स्तृ धातु ‘to spread’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/द्विगु-भावार्थ (numeral measure) ‘पञ्चाशत्कोटिभिः विस्तीर्णा’; कृदन्त: भूतकृदन्त/क्त ‘विस्तीर्ण’

• स-शैल-वन-कानना: together with mountains, forests, and groves
• स-शैल-वन-कानना: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; qualifier of ‘पृथिवी’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह; प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘शैलवनकाननैः सह’ = with mountains, forests, and groves)

• शिव-आज्ञया: by Śiva’s command
• शिव-आज्ञया: करण (Karaṇa/Means; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘शिवस्य आज्ञा’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यालङ्कार (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

• पृथिवी: the earth
• पृथिवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• लोकम्: the world
• लोकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• धृत्वा: having supported
• धृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action; gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having held/supported’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/conjunction

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred from Purana narrative style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmic governance statement: Earth supports worlds ‘by Śiva’s command’—a doctrinal backdrop for why kṣetras have efficacy (they are grounded in īśvara-ājñā).

Significance: Pilgrimage geography is sacralized by the idea that the very stability of bhūmi and lokas depends on Śiva’s niyati/ājñā; visiting kṣetras aligns the devotee with that cosmic order.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prithivi (Earth)
• Loka (worlds/realms)

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as the supreme governor (Pati) whose ājñā sustains cosmic stability—Earth supports the worlds not by independent power but through Śiva’s ordinance, pointing the devotee to reliance on Śiva as the ultimate support.

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

In Linga worship, the devotee approaches Śiva as the manifest Lord who upholds and regulates creation; this verse supports Saguna devotion by emphasizing Śiva’s active lordship (ājñā) over the world’s order and endurance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the bhāva that Śiva alone is the dhāraṇa (support) of one’s inner and outer worlds, optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s sovereignty.