Shloka 36

भुवनकोशविन्यासनिर्णयः (ज्योतिर्गति-वृष्टिचक्र-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

अपां शिवस्य भगवान् आधिपत्ये व्यवस्थितः अपां त्वधिपतिर्देवो भव इत्येव कीर्तितः

Transliteration

apāṃ śivasya bhagavān ādhipatye vyavasthitaḥ apāṃ tvadhipatirdevo bhava ityeva kīrtitaḥ

Translation

ജലങ്ങളുടെ ആധിപത്യത്തിൽ ഭഗവാൻ ശിവൻ തന്നെ ദൃഢമായി സ്ഥാപിതൻ. അതിനാൽ ജലാധിപനായ ദേവൻ ‘ഭവ’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ കീര്ത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अपाम् (apām): of the waters

• शिवस्य (śivasya): of Śiva

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord

• आधिपत्ये (ādhipatye): in sovereignty/lordship

• व्यवस्थितः (vyavasthitaḥ): स्थापितः/firmly established

• अपाम् (apām): of the waters

• तु (tu): indeed

• अधिपतिः (adhipatiḥ): overlord/presiding lord

• देवः (devaḥ): the deity

• भवः (bhavaḥ): Bhava (a name of Śiva)

• इति (iti): thus

• एव (eva): certainly/only

• कीर्तितः (kīrtitaḥ): proclaimed/celebrated

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana tradition to the sages; internally reflecting the Purana’s mapping of Śiva-names to cosmic jurisdictions)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhava
• Apah (Waters)

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-pūjā in tattva-adhikāra: the Linga signifies Pati (Śiva) as the inner ruler of the elements—here, specifically the Waters—so worship is not merely elemental propitiation but devotion to the sovereign consciousness behind them.

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

Śiva is presented as Ādhipati (supreme governor) established in cosmic jurisdictions; the name “Bhava” indicates His active lordship within manifestation while remaining the Pati who transcends pasha (bondage) and grants order to the tattvas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies apah-śuddhi (water-based purification) in Śaiva pūjā—ācamanam, snāna, abhiṣeka—performed with the understanding that the presiding reality of the waters is Bhava-Śiva, aligning outer rite with inner Pashupata awareness of Pati.