Shloka 49

Adhyaya 49: जम्बूद्वीप-मेर्वादि-वर्षपर्वत-वन-सरः-रुद्रक्षेत्र-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

रुद्रक्षेत्राणि दिव्यानि स्थापितानि सुरोत्तमैः दिग्भागे दक्षिणे प्रोक्ताः पश्चिमे च वदामि वः

Transliteration

rudrakṣetrāṇi divyāni sthāpitāni surottamaiḥ digbhāge dakṣiṇe proktāḥ paścime ca vadāmi vaḥ

Translation

Les Rudra-kṣetra divins—établis par les plus éminents des dieux—ont été proclamés dans le quartier du Sud; et maintenant je vous dirai aussi ceux qui se trouvent vers l’Occident.

Word by Word

• रुद्रक्षेत्राणि: Rudra’s sacred regions/fields (holy sites)

• दिव्यानि: divine, celestial

• स्थापितानि: established, installed

• सुरोत्तमैः: by the best among the devas

• दिग्भागे: in the division/quarter of a direction

• दक्षिणे: in the south

• प्रोक्ताः: declared, taught

• पश्चिमे: in the west

• च: and

• वदामि: I speak/I shall tell

• वः: to you (plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Devas (Surottamas)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship within sacred geography: Rudra-kṣetras are divinely established sites where installing and honoring the Linga is considered especially potent for removing pāśa (bondage) and turning the paśu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By naming the sites “Rudra-kṣetras” and calling them “divine,” the verse implies Shiva as Pati whose presence sanctifies space; the devas merely establish these fields, while Rudra’s tattva is the sanctifying, liberating reality accessed through such loci.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to tīrtha-yātrā and kṣetra-sevā (pilgrimage and service to Shiva’s holy sites) as supportive disciplines for Pāśupata orientation—preparing the practitioner for Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and inner recollection of Pati.