Shloka 20

सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्र-वर्णनम् तथा प्रियव्रतवंश-राज्यविभागः

Devanagari script

शाल्मलेश् च वपुष्मन्तं राजानमभिषिक्तवान् ज्योतिष्मन्तं कुशद्वीपे राजानं कृतवान्नृपः

Transliteration

śālmaleś ca vapuṣmantaṃ rājānamabhiṣiktavān jyotiṣmantaṃ kuśadvīpe rājānaṃ kṛtavānnṛpaḥ

Translation

శాల్మలీద్వీపంలో వపుష్మంతుని రాజుగా అభిషేకించాడు; అలాగే కుశద్వీపంలో జ్యోతిష్మంతుని రాజుగా నియమించాడు।

Word by Word

• śālmaleś: in Śālmalī (dvīpa/region)

• ca: and

• vapuṣmantam: Vapuṣmant (the radiant-bodied one

• rājānam: as king

• abhiṣiktavān: consecrated/anointed

• jyotiṣmantam: Jyotiṣmant (the luminous one

• kuśadvīpe: in Kuśa-dvīpa

• rājānam: as king

• kṛtavān: made/appointed

• nṛpaḥ: the king/ruler (the appointing sovereign)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vapuṣmant
• Jyotiṣmant
• Śālmalī-dvīpa
• Kuśa-dvīpa

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames cosmic order (dharma) as something established through consecration and rightful appointment—an outer reflection of the inner Shaiva principle that Pati (Shiva) sustains order while pashus flourish when aligned to that ordained structure.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Though Shiva is not named directly, the verse implies a universe governed by sacred ordinance; in Shaiva Siddhanta this ordered governance ultimately rests on Pati, the supreme regulator who empowers stations of authority without being limited by them.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Abhiṣeka (consecration/anointing) is implied—ritually paralleling Linga-abhiṣeka, where sanctifying a locus (king or Linga) signifies installing dharma and restraining pasha through disciplined, rule-bound action.