Shloka 7

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या मध्ये शूद्राश्च भूयशः । इज्या युद्धपणा सेवा वर्तयन्तो व्यवस्थिताः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā madhye śūdrāśca bhūyaśaḥ | ijyā yuddhapaṇā sevā vartayanto vyavasthitāḥ

Translation

அங்கே பிராமணர், க்ஷத்திரியர், வைசியர் இருந்தனர்; அவர்களிடையே சூத்ரர் அதிகமாக இருந்தனர். தத்தம் நிலையிலிருந்து யாக-பூஜை, போர்-ஆட்சிப்பணி, வாணிக-வாழ்வாதாரம், சேவை ஆகியவற்றைச் செய்தனர்.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्षत्रियाः: Kṣatriyas
• क्षत्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वैश्याः: Vaiśyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मध्ये: in the midst/among
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); स्थानवाचक (locative of place)

• शूद्राः: Śūdras
• शूद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• भूयशः: mostly, in greater number
• भूयशः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial usage), तुलनात्मक-प्रयोग: ‘mostly/for the most part’

• इज्या: worship/sacrifice
• इज्या: Karma (कर्म/Object domain; item of practice)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• युद्ध-पणाः: those whose business is war
• युद्ध-पणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘whose stake/occupation is war’

• सेवा: service
• सेवा: Karma (कर्म/Object domain; item of practice)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• वर्तयन्तः: engaging in / carrying on
• वर्तयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु) → वर्तयत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; causative)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): ‘carrying on/engaging in’

• व्यवस्थिताः: well-arranged/established
• व्यवस्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु) → व्यवस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): ‘arranged/established’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it describes varṇāśrama order as part of the world’s stable functioning (dharma) within a sacred-geography narrative.

Significance: Frames social dharma as a purifier when performed as Śiva-ārādhana and as preparation for tīrtha/vrata life.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

The verse frames dharma as ordered conduct: each person sustains society through their proper duty, and in Shaiva Siddhanta this outer order becomes a support for inner purification—making the mind fit for Shiva-bhakti and, ultimately, grace (anugraha).

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

By naming ijyā (worship) as a foundational duty, it points to Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-arcana—as a stabilizing practice that disciplines life, aligns action with dharma, and prepares the devotee for deeper realization of Shiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is regular ijyā—daily Shiva-puja/Linga-arcana—supported by disciplined living; devotees may pair it with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the inward form of worship.