Shloka 21

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

Description of the Earth-Maṇḍala, the Seven Continents, and Meru

Devanagari script

वनं चैत्ररथं पूर्वे दक्षिणे गन्धमादनः । विभ्राजं पश्चिमे तद्वदुत्तरे नन्दनं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

vanaṃ caitrarathaṃ pūrve dakṣiṇe gandhamādanaḥ | vibhrājaṃ paścime tadvaduttare nandanaṃ smṛtam

Translation

கிழக்கில் சைத்ரரத வனம்; தெற்கில் கந்தமாதனன். மேற்கில் விப்ராஜம்; அதுபோல வடக்கில் நந்தனம் என்று கூறப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma/Prātipadika-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Sg.)

• चैत्ररथम्: Caitraratha (forest/grove)
• चैत्ररथम्: Karma/Prātipadika-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्ररथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Sg.)

• पूर्वे: in the east
• पूर्वे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. Sg.)—‘in the east’

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. Sg.)—‘in the south’

• गन्धमादनः: Gandhamādana (mountain/forest)
• गन्धमादनः: Karta/Prātipadika-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + मादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. Sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gandhasya mādanaḥ) नाम

• विभ्राजम्: Vibhrāja (name of a grove/region)
• विभ्राजम्: Karma/Prātipadika-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभ्राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Sg.)—नाम

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. Sg.)—‘in the west’

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Anvaya-sūcaka (अन्वयसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थक (likewise)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. Sg.)—‘in the north’

• नन्दनम्: Nandana (grove)
• नन्दनम्: Karma/Prātipadika-nirdeśa (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Sg.)—नाम

• स्मृतम्: is said/known as
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √स्मृ; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः—‘is said/remembered’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Caitraratha
• Gandhamādana
• Vibhrāja
• Nandana

FAQs

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

It maps a sanctified, cosmic geography where divine groves are arranged by direction, teaching that sacred space is ordered and contemplative—supporting dhyāna and pilgrimage by orienting the mind toward higher realms under Śiva’s lordship.

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

Directional sacred sites function like external supports (ālambana) for Saguna devotion: pilgrims and devotees approach the Divine through consecrated places, which ultimately lead the mind to the supreme Pati (Śiva) beyond place.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dik-smaraṇa (directional recollection) during worship—facing a chosen direction, mentally invoking sacred abodes, and then centering on Śiva with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).