Shloka 12

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

Description of the Earth-Maṇḍala, the Seven Continents, and Meru

Devanagari script

इलावृतमृषिश्रेष्ठ चत्वारश्चात्र पर्वताः । विष्कंभा रचिता मेरोर्योजिताः पुनरुच्छ्रिताः

Transliteration

ilāvṛtamṛṣiśreṣṭha catvāraścātra parvatāḥ | viṣkaṃbhā racitā meroryojitāḥ punarucchritāḥ

Translation

Hỡi bậc hiền triết tối thượng, tại Ilāvṛta có bốn ngọn núi. Chúng được đặt làm những trụ chống đỡ cho núi Meru, nối liền với Meru và lại vươn lên cao vời vợi.

Word by Word

• ilāvṛta: Ilāvṛta (name of a region)
• ilāvṛta: Sambodhana/Addressed context (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ilā + vṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/नामधेय (Ilāvṛta (region))

• mṛṣi-śreṣṭha: O best of sages
• mṛṣi-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन — षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; ‘O best of sages’

• catvāraḥ: four
• catvāraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb ‘here’)

• parvatāḥ: mountains
• parvatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — कर्तृपद/वर्ण्यवस्तु

• viṣkaṃbhāḥ: as supports; buttress-like
• viṣkaṃbhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣkaṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — विशेषणम् (supporting/prop-like)

• racitāḥ: constructed
• racitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rac (रच् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘made/constructed’ (agreeing with parvatāḥ)

• meroḥ: of Meru
• meroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of Meru’

• yojitāḥ: joined; attached
• yojitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘joined/attached’

• punar: again; further
• punar: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — पुनरुक्ति/पुनः (again; further)

• ucchritāḥ: raised; lofty
• ucchritāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√śri (उद्+श्रि धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘raised up; lofty’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Ilavrita
• Meru

FAQs

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

It presents sacred cosmology as an expression of divine order (ṛta): the universe is upheld by stable supports, reflecting how Pati (Shiva) sustains and harmonizes all realms.

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

Mount Meru functions as a cosmic axis; in Shaiva understanding, such an axis mirrors the Linga principle—Saguna Shiva as the perceivable support and center through which the cosmos is oriented and upheld.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is axis-meditation (dhāraṇā): contemplate Shiva as the inner Meru—steady, central support—while mentally repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”