Shloka 40

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

तत ऊर्ध्वं न लोकाश्च गोलोकस्तत्समीपतः । गोमातरस्सुशीलाख्यास्तत्र संति शिवप्रिया

Transliteration

tata ūrdhvaṃ na lokāśca golokastatsamīpataḥ | gomātarassuśīlākhyāstatra saṃti śivapriyā

Translation

Higit pa roon ay wala nang ibang mga daigdig; malapit dito ang Goloka. Doon nananahan ang mga inang baka na tinatawag na Suśīlā, na minamahal ng Panginoong Śiva.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: from there; thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अपादान/देश-निर्देशार्थक (ablatival/adverbial: 'from there/thereafter')

• ūrdhvam: upwards; above
• ūrdhvam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (directional adverb)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• lokāḥ: worlds
• lokāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• golokaḥ: Goloka (world of cows)
• golokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'of cows' + 'world')

• tat-samīpataḥ: from near that (place); nearby
• tat-samīpataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + samīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial compound), अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from near that/there'

• go-mātaraḥ: cow-mothers
• go-mātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'mother of cows')

• suśīla-ākhyāḥ: named “Suśīlā”
• suśīla-ākhyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'having the name Suśīlā' / 'called Suśīlā')

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: 'there')

• santi: are
• santi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śiva-priyāḥ: dear to Śiva
• śiva-priyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive: 'dear to Śiva')

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; this is a cosmographic note placing Goloka near the highest realm described, with beings (cow-mothers) dear to Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Goloka
• Gomata (cow-mothers)

FAQs

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

It points to transcendence: beyond the structured “lokas” lies a supreme boundary, and near that exalted region is Goloka—presented here as sanctified and intimately connected to Śiva through beings (the cow-mothers) who embody purity, gentleness, and devotional closeness.

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

By calling these beings “Śiva’s beloved,” the verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—relationship and grace. In Linga-worship, the devotee similarly approaches Śiva as the compassionate Pati who grants access beyond worldly realms, leading the soul (paśu) past bondage (pāśa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cultivating sattva and reverence (especially through daily Śiva-pūjā): japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering of pure substances, and a gentle, non-harming (ahiṃsā) devotional life that aligns with the purity symbolized by the cow-mothers.