Shloka 7

Adhyaya 52: सोमाधारः, पुण्योदानदी, मेरुप्रदक्षिणा, जम्बूद्वीपनववर्षवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

योजनानां महामेरुः श्रीकण्ठाक्रीडकोमलः तत्रासीनो यतः शर्वः साम्बः सह गणेश्वरैः

Transliteration

yojanānāṃ mahāmeruḥ śrīkaṇṭhākrīḍakomalaḥ tatrāsīno yataḥ śarvaḥ sāmbaḥ saha gaṇeśvaraiḥ

Translation

യോജനകളാൽ അളക്കപ്പെടുന്ന മഹാമേരു നീലകണ്ഠനായ ശ്രീകണ്ഠന്റെ മൃദുല ക്രീഡാഭൂമിയാണ്. അവിടെയാണു ശർവ്വൻ—ശക്തിയോടുകൂടിയ സാംബ ശിവൻ—ഗണാധിപന്മാരോടൊപ്പം ആസീനനായിരിക്കുന്നത്।

Word by Word

• yojanānām: of yojanas (measures)

• mahāmeruḥ: the great Meru (cosmic mountain)

• śrīkaṇṭha: Śrīkaṇṭha, the blue-throated Śiva

• ākrīḍa: play-ground, sporting ground

• komalaḥ: gentle, tender, delightful

• tatra: there

• āsīnaḥ: seated

• yataḥ: where/whereupon

• śarvaḥ: Śarva (Śiva, the destroyer of bondage)

• sāmbaḥ: with Ambā/Śakti, Śiva as united with Śakti

• saha: together with

• gaṇeśvaraiḥ: with the gaṇa-lords (chief attendants of Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti (Ambā/Umā)
• Ganas
• Mahāmeru
• Śrīkaṇṭha
• Śarva

FAQs

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

By situating Śiva (Pati) on Mahāmeru with his gaṇas, the verse frames the cosmic seat of Śiva from which sacred order and worship (including liṅga-pratiṣṭhā) radiate into the world.

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

Śiva is presented as Śrīkaṇṭha and Śarva—both compassionate and world-transforming—seated in sovereign stillness, indicating Pati as the transcendent Lord who governs and dissolves pāśa (bondage) for the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The image of Śiva seated with gaṇa-lords supports dhyāna (meditative visualization) central to Pāśupata orientation: contemplating Pati with his divine retinue to stabilize devotion and inner discipline.