Shloka 7

Adhyaya 52: सोमाधारः, पुण्योदानदी, मेरुप्रदक्षिणा, जम्बूद्वीपनववर्षवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

योजनानां महामेरुः श्रीकण्ठाक्रीडकोमलः तत्रासीनो यतः शर्वः साम्बः सह गणेश्वरैः

Transliteration

yojanānāṃ mahāmeruḥ śrīkaṇṭhākrīḍakomalaḥ tatrāsīno yataḥ śarvaḥ sāmbaḥ saha gaṇeśvaraiḥ

Translation

以由旬计量的摩诃梅鲁，是青颈主（室利建陀，Śrīkaṇṭha）柔和的游乐之地。彼处，舍婆（Śarva）——与圣力（Śakti）合一的湿婆（Sāmba）——端坐，与其众伽那之主同在。

Word by Word

• yojanānām: of yojanas (measures)

• mahāmeruḥ: the great Meru (cosmic mountain)

• śrīkaṇṭha: Śrīkaṇṭha, the blue-throated Śiva

• ākrīḍa: play-ground, sporting ground

• komalaḥ: gentle, tender, delightful

• tatra: there

• āsīnaḥ: seated

• yataḥ: where/whereupon

• śarvaḥ: Śarva (Śiva, the destroyer of bondage)

• sāmbaḥ: with Ambā/Śakti, Śiva as united with Śakti

• saha: together with

• gaṇeśvaraiḥ: with the gaṇa-lords (chief attendants of Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti (Ambā/Umā)
• Ganas
• Mahāmeru
• Śrīkaṇṭha
• Śarva

FAQs

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

By situating Śiva (Pati) on Mahāmeru with his gaṇas, the verse frames the cosmic seat of Śiva from which sacred order and worship (including liṅga-pratiṣṭhā) radiate into the world.

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

Śiva is presented as Śrīkaṇṭha and Śarva—both compassionate and world-transforming—seated in sovereign stillness, indicating Pati as the transcendent Lord who governs and dissolves pāśa (bondage) for the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The image of Śiva seated with gaṇa-lords supports dhyāna (meditative visualization) central to Pāśupata orientation: contemplating Pati with his divine retinue to stabilize devotion and inner discipline.