Shloka 40

भुवनकोशस्वभाववर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-पर्वत-लोकविन्यासः तथा यक्ष-उमा-प्रकाशः

Devanagari script

नियुतान्येकनियुतं भूपृष्ठाद्भानुमण्डलम् रथः षोडशसाहस्रो भास्करस्य तथोपरि

Transliteration

niyutānyekaniyutaṃ bhūpṛṣṭhādbhānumaṇḍalam rathaḥ ṣoḍaśasāhasro bhāskarasya tathopari

Translation

భూపృష్టం నుండి భానుమండలం వరకు ఒక నియుత దూరం; దాని పైగా భాస్కరుని రథం పదహారు సహస్ర (యోజన) విస్తరించి ఉంది.

Word by Word

• नियुतानि (niyutāni): niyutas, a large unit of measure

• एकनियुतम् (eka-niyutam): one niyuta

• भूपृष्ठात् (bhū-pṛṣṭhāt): from the earth’s surface

• भानुमण्डलम् (bhānu-maṇḍalam): the solar orb/disc

• रथः (rathaḥ): chariot

• षोडशसाहस्रः (ṣoḍaśa-sāhasraḥ): sixteen thousand

• भास्करस्य (bhāskarasya): of Bhāskara, the Sun

• तथा (tathā): thus/likewise

• उपरि (upari): above

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Bhaskara
• Surya

FAQs

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

By giving precise cosmic measures, the verse frames the universe as an ordered manifestation under Pati (Śiva). In Linga worship, this supports the contemplative view that the Linga is the axis of cosmic law (niyati), and the devotee aligns mind and ritual with that order.

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

Though Śiva is not named directly, the emphasis on fixed measure and celestial structure points to Shiva-tattva as the supreme regulator: Pati whose intelligence sustains the rhythms of the worlds, while pashus (souls) remain bound by pasha (cosmic limitation) until they realize that governing principle.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse most directly supports dhyāna on cosmic order—meditating on the Sun’s course as a sign of divine governance. In a Pāśupata-oriented reading, it reinforces disciplined contemplation (niyama) and time-aligned worship (kāla-anusandhāna) rather than a specific external rite.