Shloka 4

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

ग्रहाणां मण्डलं कृत्स्नं शशेरुपरि संस्थितम् । सनक्षत्रं सहस्राणि दशैव परितोपरि

Transliteration

grahāṇāṃ maṇḍalaṃ kṛtsnaṃ śaśerupari saṃsthitam | sanakṣatraṃ sahasrāṇi daśaiva paritopari

Translation

சந்திரனின் மேலே முழு கிரகமண்டலம் நிலைபெற்றுள்ளது; அதற்கும் மேலே அனைத்துத் திசைகளிலும் பத்தாயிரம் நட்சத்திரக் கூட்டங்கள் விளங்குகின்றன।

Word by Word

• grahāṇām: of the planets
• grahāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• maṇḍalam: the sphere/orbit
• maṇḍalam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as subject with adjective ‘saṃsthitam’

• kṛtsnam: entire
• kṛtsnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of maṇḍalam

• śaśeḥ: of the Moon
• śaśeḥ: Adhikaraṇa-sambandha (अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• upari: above
• upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (indeclinable of place)

• saṃsthitam: situated
• saṃsthitam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) of sam-√sthā ‘placed/situated’

• sa-nakṣatram: together with the stars
• sa-nakṣatram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव—‘nakṣatraiḥ saha’ (together with stars)

• sahasrāṇi: thousands
• sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्या/परिमाणवाचक

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Numeral)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; here used as संख्या-विशेषण (numeral) qualifying sahasrāṇi; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन-सामर्थ्य (ten [thousands])

• eva: indeed/exactly
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• paritaḥ: all around
• paritaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paritaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक/पर्याय (around, on all sides)

• upari: above
• upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Moon (Chandra)
• Grahāḥ (planets)
• Nakṣatrāṇi (constellations)

FAQs

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

It presents the cosmos as an ordered structure within Shiva’s governance, implying that while planets and stars shape worldly experience, the seeker should look beyond them toward Shiva (Pati), the transcendent Lord who grants liberation.

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

By describing the universe as layered and upheld by divine order, it supports Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Linga—as the accessible symbol of the Lord who pervades and regulates all cosmic spheres, including grahas and nakshatras.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa, cultivating detachment from astrological fear and anchoring devotion in Shiva as the supreme refuge.