Shloka 50

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

गौरी कुमुद्वती चैव सन्ध्या रात्रिर्मनोजवा । शांतिश्च पुंडरीका च याः पिबन्ति पयश्शुभम्

Transliteration

gaurī kumudvatī caiva sandhyā rātrirmanojavā | śāṃtiśca puṃḍarīkā ca yāḥ pibanti payaśśubham

Translation

ଗୌରୀ, କୁମୁଦ୍ୱତୀ, ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟା, ରାତ୍ରି, ମନୋଜବା, ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ପୁଣ୍ଡରୀକା—ଏମାନେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଶୁଭ ପୟସ୍ ପାନ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• गौरी: Gaurī (name of a river)
• गौरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुमुद्वती: Kumudvatī (name)
• कुमुद्वती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed / also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सन्ध्या: Sandhyā (name)
• सन्ध्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रात्रिः: Rātri (Night; name)
• रात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मनोजवा: Manojavā (swift as mind; name)
• मनोजवा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोजवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शान्तिः: Śānti (Peace; name)
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुण्डरीका: Puṇḍarīkā (name)
• पुण्डरीका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• याः: who (those which)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• पिबन्ति: drink
• पिबन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• पयः: water / milk-like water
• पयः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious / pure
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पयः-विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā account to the sages, consistent with Purāṇic dialogue flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse names Gaurī among a septet of feminine figures associated with auspicious milk; it functions as a local cosmographic/ritual tableau rather than a Jyotirliṅga māhātmya.

Significance: Evokes purity and auspiciousness of milk as a sanctifying substance; supports the idea of śiva-bhakti yielding kṣema and grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights how sacred offerings (like pure milk) are shared within the divine sphere, symbolizing that devotional substances become sanctified and supportive of peace (Śānti) and auspiciousness when connected to Śiva-Umā worship.

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

Milk is a classic upacāra in Saguna worship—especially in abhiṣeka to the Śiva-liṅga—signifying purification, nourishment of devotion, and reverent participation in Śiva’s manifest presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer pure milk in Śiva-pūjā/abhiṣeka with a steady mind, ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and contemplation of Śiva-Umā as the source of peace and auspiciousness.