Shloka 23

सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्र-वर्णनम् तथा प्रियव्रतवंश-राज्यविभागः

Devanagari script

धातकी चैव द्वावेतौ पुत्रौ पुत्रवतां वरौ महावीतं स्मृतं वर्षं तस्य नाम्ना महात्मनः

Transliteration

dhātakī caiva dvāvetau putrau putravatāṃ varau mahāvītaṃ smṛtaṃ varṣaṃ tasya nāmnā mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Dhātakī et un autre encore : ces deux-là furent des fils d’excellence, les premiers parmi ceux que la descendance bénit. On se souvient d’une contrée (varṣa) nommée Mahāvīta, ainsi appelée d’après ce grand être.

Word by Word

• धातकी (dhātakī): Dhātakī (proper name)

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed

• द्वौ (dvau): two

• एतौ (etau): these

• पुत्रौ (putrau): sons

• पुत्रवताम् (putravatām): of those who have sons/offspring

• वरौ (varau): the best/excellent

• महावीतम् (mahāvītam): Mahāvīta (name of a varṣa/region)

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): is remembered/known

• वर्षम् (varṣam): region/territory

• तस्य (tasya): of him/that

• नाम्ना (nāmnā): by the name

• महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ): of the great-souled one

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Dhātakī
• Mahāvīta

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

By mapping sacred regions and lineages, the verse situates Shiva’s dharma within an ordered cosmos—supporting pilgrimage, sanctified territory, and the ritual worldview in which Linga-puja is performed.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly: it reflects Shiva-tattva as Pati, the cosmic governor, through whose ordinance (niyati) names, regions, and generations unfold—showing an intelligible creation where pashus live under pasha until guided to liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi or Pashupata Yoga technique is stated; the verse primarily contributes to the cosmological and genealogical framework that underlies later Shaiva observances.