Shloka 15

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

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

Devanagari script

जम्बूद्वीपस्य नाम्नो वै हेतुं शृणु महामुने । विराजंते महावृक्षास्तत्स्वभावं वदामि ते

Transliteration

jambūdvīpasya nāmno vai hetuṃ śṛṇu mahāmune | virājaṃte mahāvṛkṣāstatsvabhāvaṃ vadāmi te

Translation

ಓ ಮಹಾಮುನಿಯೇ! ‘ಜಂಬೂದ್ವೀಪ’ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನ ನಿಜ ಕಾರಣವನ್ನು ಕೇಳು. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾವೃಕ್ಷಗಳು ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ವಿರಾಜಿಸುತ್ತವೆ; ಅವುಗಳ ಸ್ವಭಾವವನ್ನು ನಾನು ನಿನಗೆ ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇನೆ.

Word by Word

• jambū-dvīpasya: of Jambūdvīpa
• jambū-dvīpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jambū (प्रातिपदिक) + dvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; ‘of Jambūdvīpa’

• nāmnaḥ: of the name
• nāmnaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of the name’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निश्चयार्थक/खलु (indeed)

• hetum: reason; cause
• hetum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — कर्म (object of śṛṇu)

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन — ‘hear!’

• mahā-mune: O great sage
• mahā-mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन — कर्मधारयः; ‘O great sage’

• virājante: shine; are splendid
• virājante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√rāj (वि+राज् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन — आत्मनेपद; ‘they shine/are splendid’

• mahā-vṛkṣāḥ: great trees
• mahā-vṛkṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — कर्मधारयः; कर्ता (subject of virājante)

• tat-svabhāvam: that nature; its nature
• tat-svabhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — तत्पुरुषः; कर्म (object of vadāmi): ‘that nature/its nature’

• vadāmi: I tell
• vadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन — परस्मैपद; ‘I tell/say’

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन — सम्प्रदान (to you)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Jambūdvīpa

FAQs

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

The verse frames sacred geography as meaningful revelation: names and features of the world are not random, but point to an underlying dharmic order upheld by Pati (Shiva), encouraging contemplative understanding rather than mere description.

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

By highlighting visible splendor (resplendent great trees) and its inner cause, the verse mirrors Saguna worship: devotees begin with perceivable forms and symbols and are led toward the deeper truth they signify—ultimately grounded in Shiva as the sustaining reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śravaṇa and manana (listening and reflective contemplation): recite Shiva Purana passages with attention to the ‘cause’ (hetu) behind forms, using japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind while reflecting on the meaning.