Shloka 37

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

शतानि पञ्च चत्वारि त्रीणि द्वे चैव योजने सर्वोपरि निकृष्टानि तारकामण्डलानि तु

Transliteration

śatāni pañca catvāri trīṇi dve caiva yojane sarvopari nikṛṣṭāni tārakāmaṇḍalāni tu

Translation

താരകമണ്ഡലങ്ങളുടെ അളവുകൾ യോജനയിൽ രണ്ടുനൂറ്, മൂന്നുനൂറ്, നാലുനൂറ്, അഞ്ചുനൂറ് എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു; അവയിൽ ചിലത് ഉന്നതവും ചിലത് നികൃഷ്ടവും—മേലോട്ടു ക്രമമായി നിരന്നവ।

Word by Word

• śatāni: hundreds

• pañca: five

• catvāri: four

• trīṇi: three

• dve: two

• ca eva: and indeed

• yojane: in yojanas (as a measure of distance/extent)

• sarva-upari: at the very top/above all

• nikṛṣṭāni: lower/inferior/placed below

• tārakāmaṇḍalāni: stellar circles/constellational spheres

• tu: indeed/for (emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating cosmology to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

By mapping the graded stellar spheres, the verse supports the Purāṇic vision that all levels of the cosmos function within Shiva’s (Pati’s) order—encouraging Linga worship as alignment of the pashu (individual soul) with that cosmic hierarchy and dharma.

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

Though Shiva is not named directly, the structured “higher and lower” arrangement implies a governed cosmos; in Shaiva Siddhanta this governance is the mark of Pati—Shiva as the transcendent yet immanent Lord who upholds measure (niyati) while remaining beyond all measures.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this line; the takeaway is contemplative—using cosmological order as a support for dhyāna and Pashupata-oriented vairāgya, recognizing graded realms while seeking liberation beyond them through Shiva-bhakti and inner discipline.