Shloka 18

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

योजनानां च पंचाशत्कोटिसंख्याप्रमाणतः । ब्रह्मांडस्यैव विस्तारो मुनिभिः परिकीर्तितः

Transliteration

yojanānāṃ ca paṃcāśatkoṭisaṃkhyāpramāṇataḥ | brahmāṃḍasyaiva vistāro munibhiḥ parikīrtitaḥ

Translation

യോജനകളുടെ അളവിൽ അമ്പത് കോടി എന്ന സംഖ്യാമാനപ്രകാരം ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡത്തിന്റെ വ്യാപ്തി മുനിമാർ പ്രസ്താവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th), बहुवचन (pl.)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• पञ्चाशत्-कोटि-सङ्ख्या-प्रमाणतः: according to the measure of fifty crores (in number)
• पञ्चाशत्-कोटि-सङ्ख्या-प्रमाणतः: प्रकार/हेतु (Manner/Standard)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (adverbial compound) + तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘according to/by measure’; अर्थे—प्रमाणतः (in terms of measure)

• ब्रह्म-अण्डस्य: of the Brahmāṇḍa (cosmic egg)
• ब्रह्म-अण्डस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः अण्डस्य)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• विस्तारः: extent, expansion
• विस्तारः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (pl.)

• परिकीर्तितः: has been proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितः: कर्मणि भावः (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु) → परिकीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘proclaimed/declared’, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); ‘विस्तारः’ इति पदेन सह

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, consistent with Purana discourse style)

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: purāṇic measurement of brahmāṇḍa (vistāra)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmāṇḍa
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as a measured, knowable domain described by realized sages—implying that while the Brahmāṇḍa has limits, Shiva as Pati ultimately transcends cosmic limitation, guiding the soul beyond the bounded world toward liberation.

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

By situating the universe within a defined Brahmāṇḍa, it supports the Purāṇic sacred map in which Jyotirliṅgas and Liṅga worship become accessible focal points of Saguna Shiva within the cosmos—doorways for devotion leading toward the transcendent (Nirguna) reality of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the vast yet finite nature of the cosmos while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating dispassion and devotion; pilgrimage-minded devotees may also relate this cosmology to Jyotirliṅga darśana as a disciplined devotional practice.