Shloka 4

Adhyaya 49: जम्बूद्वीप-मेर्वादि-वर्षपर्वत-वन-सरः-रुद्रक्षेत्र-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

जठरो देवकूटश् च पूर्वस्यां दिशि पर्वतौ निषधो दक्षिणे मेरोस् तस्य दक्षिणतो गिरिः हेमकूट इति ख्यातो हिमवांस्तस्य दक्षिणे

Transliteration

jaṭharo devakūṭaś ca pūrvasyāṃ diśi parvatau niṣadho dakṣiṇe meros tasya dakṣiṇato giriḥ hemakūṭa iti khyāto himavāṃstasya dakṣiṇe

Translation

Di arah timur berdiri dua gunung, Jaṭhara dan Devakūṭa. Di selatan Meru terletak Niṣadha; dan di selatan Niṣadha ada gunung yang masyhur bernama Hemakūṭa. Di selatan Hemakūṭa terletak Himavān (Himalaya).

Word by Word

• जठरः (jaṭharaḥ): Jaṭhara (a mountain)

• देवकूटः (devakūṭaḥ): Devakūṭa (a mountain)

• च (ca): and

• पूर्वस्याम् (pūrvasyām): in the eastern

• दिशि (diśi): direction

• पर्वतौ (parvatau): the two mountains

• निषधः (niṣadhaḥ): Niṣadha (mountain range)

• दक्षिणे (dakṣiṇe): to the south

• मेरोः (meroḥ): of Meru

• तस्य (tasya): of that / thereof

• दक्षिणतः (dakṣiṇataḥ): to the south

• गिरिः (giriḥ): mountain

• हेमकूटः (hemakūṭaḥ): Hemakūṭa

• इति (iti): thus

• ख्यातः (khyātaḥ): renowned / known

• हिमवान् (himavān): Himavān, the Himalaya

• तस्य (tasya): of that

• दक्षिणे (dakṣiṇe): to the south

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Jaṭhara
• Devakūṭa
• Niṣadha
• Hemakūṭa
• Himavān

FAQs

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

It situates the devotee’s Shiva-bhakti within a sacred cosmic map—Meru and the surrounding ranges form the ordered world in which tīrthas and Linga-sthānas are later understood as spiritually potent locations for worship.

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

Indirectly: by presenting a precise cosmic order, it reflects the Siddhāntic view that the manifest universe (aśuddha- and śuddha-adhvan) is structured under the governance of Pati (Śiva), while pashus (souls) traverse this ordered realm under pāśas (bondages) until liberated.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this verse; the takeaway is preparatory—sacred geography underpins pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā), temple orientation, and contemplative visualization used alongside Shaiva pūjā and yogic meditation.