Shloka 2

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

नवयोजनसाहस्रो विस्तारोऽस्य महामुने । स्वर्गापवर्गयोः कर्मभूमिरेषा स्मृता बुधैः

Transliteration

navayojanasāhasro vistāro'sya mahāmune | svargāpavargayoḥ karmabhūmireṣā smṛtā budhaiḥ

Translation

ஓ மகாமுனியே, இதன் பரப்பு ஒன்பதாயிரம் யோஜனங்கள் எனக் கூறப்படுகிறது. ஞானிகள் இதை ஸ்வர்க்கமும் அபவர்க்கமும் (மோட்சமும்) பெறும் கர்மபூமி என நினைவர்; சிவபக்தியுடன் அர்ப்பணித்த செயல் பலனளிக்கும்.

Word by Word

• नव-योजन-साहस्रः: (being) nine thousand yojanas
• नव-योजन-साहस्रः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वपद)

• विस्तारः: extent / breadth
• विस्तारः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular (pronoun)

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative singular

• स्वर्ग-अपवर्गयोः: of heaven and liberation
• स्वर्ग-अपवर्गयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अपवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; Genitive dual (itaretara-dvandva)

• कर्म-भूमिः: field/land of action
• कर्म-भूमिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• एषा: this
• एषा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular (pronoun)

• स्मृता: is considered / is remembered
• स्मृता: कर्मणि-क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle used predicatively

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames Bhārata as karmabhūmi—where action, when offered to Śiva, yields both bhoga (svarga) and apavarga (mokṣa). This is a pan-Indian purāṇic motif rather than a single-liṅga origin account.

Significance: Affirms human birth in Bhārata as uniquely efficacious for Śiva-bhakti and karma-yoga leading to liberation (anugraha).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the world as a karma-bhūmi: a sacred arena where embodied beings can transform action into spiritual progress—seeking svarga through merit, and apavarga (moksha) through purified, Śiva-oriented living.

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

By calling the world a karma-bhūmi for both heaven and liberation, it supports the Shiva Purana’s teaching that ritual and devotion to Saguna Śiva—especially through Linga worship—can elevate merit and, when joined with right knowledge and surrender, culminate in moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Make daily karma purposeful by offering it to Śiva: perform Linga pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra), japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate inner detachment so action becomes a means to apavarga.