Shloka 54

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

तत्र पुण्या जनपदाश्चातुर्वर्ण्यसमन्विताः । नद्यश्चात्र महापुण्यास्सर्वपापभयापहाः

Transliteration

tatra puṇyā janapadāścāturvarṇyasamanvitāḥ | nadyaścātra mahāpuṇyāssarvapāpabhayāpahāḥ

Translation

នៅទីនោះ ដែនដីទាំងឡាយសុទ្ធតែបរិសុទ្ធ និងរៀបរយដោយវណ្ណៈទាំងបួន។ ទន្លេនៅទីនោះក៏បរិសុទ្ធយ៉ាងខ្លាំង បំបាត់បាបទាំងអស់ និងបំបាត់ភ័យដែលកើតពីអំពើអាក្រក់។

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• puṇyāḥ: holy/meritorious
• puṇyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• janapadāḥ: countries/regions
• janapadāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• cāturvarṇya-samanvitāḥ: endowed with the four varṇas
• cāturvarṇya-samanvitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāturvarṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त; सम्+अन्वि/इ √i?; past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (cāturvarṇyasya samanvitāḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• nadyaḥ: rivers
• nadyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• mahā-puṇyāḥ: very holy
• mahā-puṇyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (mahā ca puṇyāḥ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (nadyaḥ इति विशेष्ये)

• sarva-pāpa-bhaya-apahāḥ: removers of all sin and fear
• sarva-pāpa-bhaya-apahāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + apaha (प्रातिपदिक; apa√hṛ ‘to remove’ से)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (pāpabhayasya apahāḥ; sarva- उपपद); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (nadyaḥ इति विशेष्ये)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

The verse praises a Shiva-sanctified region where dharmic order and sacred rivers support inner purification—sins (pāpa) and the fear they generate are said to be removed through contact with such tīrthas, aiding the soul’s movement toward liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

In the Shiva Purana, tīrtha-glory commonly functions as an extension of Saguna Shiva’s grace: holy places and rivers are sanctified because they are connected to Shiva’s presence and worship (often via linga-sevā), making external purity a support for devotion and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage bathing (snāna) in sacred rivers with Shiva-remembrance—reciting the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering water (jala/arghya) to a linga, and maintaining dharmic conduct—aligns with the verse’s emphasis on removing sin and fear.