Shloka 31

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

प्लक्षस्तन्नामसंज्ञो वै प्लक्षद्वीपो द्विजोत्तम । इज्यते तत्र भगवाञ्छंकरो लोकशंकरः

Transliteration

plakṣastannāmasaṃjño vai plakṣadvīpo dvijottama | ijyate tatra bhagavāñchaṃkaro lokaśaṃkaraḥ

Translation

ஓ இருபிறப்பில் சிறந்தவரே! ‘ப்லக்ஷ’ என்ற பெயராலே புகழ்பெற்ற ப்லக்ஷத்வீபம் உள்ளது. அங்கே உலகங்களுக்கு நன்மை செய்பவர் பகவான் சங்கரர், லோகசங்கரர், வழிபடப்படுகிறார்.

Word by Word

• प्लक्षः: Plakṣa (name)
• प्लक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्-नाम-संज्ञः: having that as its name
• तत्-नाम-संज्ञः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + नाम (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य नाम संज्ञा यस्य/तन्नामसंज्ञः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• प्लक्ष-द्वीपः: the Plakṣa island-continent
• प्लक्ष-द्वीपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्लक्षस्य द्वीपः)

• द्विज-उत्तम: O best of twice-born
• द्विज-उत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः द्विजः)

• इज्यते: is worshipped
• इज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोक-शंकरः: benefactor of the worlds
• लोक-शंकरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य शंकरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse situates Śaṅkara’s worship in Plakṣa-dvīpa as part of Purāṇic cosmography, implying Śiva’s universal lordship beyond Bhārata-varṣa.

Significance: Frames Śiva as loka-śaṅkara (universal benefactor), encouraging bhakti that is not geographically limited; merit arises from recognizing His all-pervasive sovereignty.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Purāṇic cosmography of dvīpas (world-structure narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that sacred geography is spiritually charged: in Plakṣa-dvīpa, Śiva as Śaṅkara is approached as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who grants auspiciousness and supports the worlds, encouraging devotion as a direct path toward grace and liberation.

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

By stating that Bhagavān Śaṅkara is worshipped there, the verse points to Saguna-upāsanā—Śiva worshipped with form and attributes, commonly through the Śiva-liṅga and related rites, as a means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is regular Śiva-pūjā: worship Śaṅkara with mantra-japa (especially Pañcākṣarī—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offerings such as water and bilva leaves, and a steady contemplative remembrance of Śiva as loka-śaṅkara (the good of all beings).