Shloka 37

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

Description of the Earth-Maṇḍala, the Seven Continents, and Meru

Devanagari script

जठराद्याः स्थिता मेरोर्येषां द्वौ द्वौ व्यवस्थितौ । केसराः पर्वता एते श्वेताद्याः सुमनोरमाः

Transliteration

jaṭharādyāḥ sthitā meroryeṣāṃ dvau dvau vyavasthitau | kesarāḥ parvatā ete śvetādyāḥ sumanoramāḥ

Translation

Gunung-gunung mulai dari Jaṭhara berdiri mengelilingi Meru, tersusun berpasang-pasang. Rangkaian menawan ini disebut ‘Kesara’, termasuk Śveta dan yang lainnya, indah dipandang.

Word by Word

• जठर-आद्याः: beginning with Jaṭhara
• जठर-आद्याः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जठर + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ अन्तः—“beginning with Jaṭhara” (आद्य = starting with)

• स्थिताः: situated/standing
• स्थिताः: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मेरोः: of Meru
• मेरोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• येषाम्: of whom/whose
• येषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन

• द्वौ: two (each pair)
• द्वौ: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; पुनरुक्ति—“two and two (in pairs)”

• व्यवस्थितौ: arranged/placed (in pairs)
• व्यवस्थितौ: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• केसराः: Kesaras (name of mountains)
• केसराः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; apposition to केसराः

• एते: these
• एते: विशेषण (Demonstrative qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; demonstrative

• श्वेत-आद्याः: beginning with Śveta
• श्वेत-आद्याः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; “beginning with Śveta”

• सु-मनोरमाः: very delightful
• सु-मनोरमाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—‘सु’ = very/well + ‘मनोरम’ = charming

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmographic continuation: Meru encircled by paired ‘keśara’ (stamen-like) mountain ranges (e.g., Śveta etc.), reinforcing the lotus-cosmos metaphor.

Significance: Supports dhyāna on the ordered manifestation (sṛṣṭi) and the ‘lotus’ symbolism often used for sacred space; not tied to a single kṣetra.

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Jaṭhara
• Śveta

FAQs

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

The verse presents the cosmos as an ordered, intelligible sacred structure—an expression of Pati (Śiva) as the supreme governor—encouraging the seeker to see creation as purposeful rather than chaotic, and thus fit for dharma, worship, and inner ascent.

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

By describing Meru and its surrounding ranges, the text frames the world as a consecrated field where Saguna Śiva is approached through sacred centers (kṣetras) and symbols (including the Liṅga); the ordered geography supports pilgrimage, temple culture, and contemplative visualization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is kṣetra-smaraṇa (contemplative recollection of sacred geography): while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—one may visualize Meru as the inner axis (suṣumnā) and the surrounding ‘pairs’ as balanced energies, supporting steady meditation.