Shloka 96

Adhyaya 89: शौचाचारलक्षणम् — सदाचार, भैक्ष्यचर्या, प्रायश्चित्त, द्रव्यशुद्धि, आशौच-निर्णय

Devanagari script

महावीते सुवीते च जंबूद्वीपे तथाष्टसु शाकद्वीपादिषु प्रोक्तो धर्मो वै भारते यथा

Transliteration

mahāvīte suvīte ca jaṃbūdvīpe tathāṣṭasu śākadvīpādiṣu prokto dharmo vai bhārate yathā

Translation

À Mahāvīta et Suvīta, dans Jambūdvīpa et dans les huit régions—à commencer par Śākadvīpa—il est proclamé que le Dharma est établi comme en Bhārata. Ainsi, le même ordre juste qui soutient le paśu (l’âme liée) est enseigné partout sous la souveraineté de Pati, le Seigneur Śiva.

Word by Word

• mahāvīte: in Mahāvīta (a region)

• suvīte: in Suvīta (a region)

• ca: and

• jambūdvīpe: in Jambūdvīpa

• tathā: likewise

• aṣṭasu: in the eight (divisions/regions)

• śākadvīpa-ādiṣu: in Śākadvīpa and the rest

• proktaḥ: is proclaimed/taught

• dharmaḥ: Dharma (cosmic and ethical order)

• vai: indeed

• bhārate: in Bhārata (India)

• yathā: as/just as

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Jambudvipa
• Shakadvipa
• Bharata

FAQs

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

It frames Dharma as universal across all lands, implying that Śiva as Pati upholds the same cosmic order everywhere; Linga worship aligns the devotee (pashu) with that universal Dharma.

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

By emphasizing a single Dharma operating across all dvīpas, it points to Śiva-tattva as the consistent, all-pervading governance (niyantṛ) behind the world-order that regulates beings and their bonds (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is named; the takeaway is dharma-niṣṭhā—steadfast adherence to right conduct—which in Śaiva practice supports purification for Linga-pūjā and the Pāśupata aim of loosening pāśa (bondage).