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Shloka 11

अध्याय ३२३ — श्वेतद्वीपगमनम्, यज्ञभाग-विवादः, एकान्तिभक्त्या नारायणदर्शन-नियमः (Śvetadvīpa Journey; Dispute over Sacrificial Share; Rule of Nārāyaṇa-vision through Single-minded Devotion)

मेरुशुज़े किल पुरा कर्णिकारवनायुते । विजहार महादेवो भीमैर्भूतगणैर्वृत:,कहते हैं, पूर्वकालमें कनेरके वनोंसे सुशोभित मेरुपर्वतके शिखरपर भगवान्‌ शंकर भयानक भूतगणोंको साथ ले विहार करते थे

Meruśṛṅge kila purā karṇikāravanāyute | vijahāra Mahādevo bhīmair bhūtaganair vṛtaḥ ||

毗湿摩说道:在远古之时,于须弥山之巅——遍饰以迦尼迦罗树之林——大自在天摩诃提婆(湿婆)自在游乐,周围簇拥着可怖的部多众。

मेरुशृङ्गेon the peak of Meru
मेरुशृङ्गे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमेरु-शृङ्ग
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
किलindeed/it is said
किल:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकिल
पुराformerly/once
पुरा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरा
कर्णिकारवनायुतेendowed with forests of karnikāra (oleander) trees
कर्णिकारवनायुते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootकर्णिकार-वन-आयुत
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
विजहारsportively roamed/played
विजहार:
TypeVerb
Rootवि√हृ
FormPerfect (Paroksha), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
महादेवःMahādeva (Śiva)
महादेवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहादेव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भीमैःby/with terrible (ones)
भीमैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootभीम
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
भूतगणैःby/with hosts of spirits
भूतगणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभूत-गण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वृतःsurrounded
वृतः:
TypeAdjective
Root√वृ (वरणे) → वृत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
M
Mahādeva (Śiva/Śaṅkara)
M
Mount Meru
K
karṇikāra forest (karṇikāravana)
B
bhūta-gaṇas (hosts of spirits)

Educational Q&A

The verse evokes reverence for the divine’s vastness: even fearsome beings (bhūtas) can be attendants within a higher dharmic-cosmic order, reminding the listener not to judge sacred reality only by surface appearance.

Bhīṣma describes an ancient scene on Mount Meru where Śiva (Mahādeva) is enjoying divine sport, surrounded by terrifying hosts of bhūtas, on a summit beautified by karṇikāra groves.