Vamana Purana — Structure of Jambudvipa, Shloka 12

The Structure of Jambudvipa: Nine Varshas, Navadvipa Bharata, Mountains, Rivers, and Peoples

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः सूद्राश्चान्तरवासिनः इज्यायुद्धवणिज्याद्यैः कर्मभिः कृतपावनाः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ sūdrāścāntaravāsinaḥ ijyāyuddhavaṇijyādyaiḥ karmabhiḥ kṛtapāvanāḥ

Translation

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—along with those dwelling in the interior regions—are made purified by their respective occupations such as sacrifice/worship, warfare, trade, and the like.

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brāhmaṇas
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• kṣatriyāḥ: Kṣatriyas
• kṣatriyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• vaiśyāḥ: Vaiśyas
• vaiśyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• śūdrāḥ: Śūdras
• śūdrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• antaravāsinaḥ: inhabitants of the interior
• antaravāsinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vas/वस् (धातु) णिनि/इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'अन्तरे वासिनः' (dwellers in the interior)

• ijyā-yuddha-vaṇijya-ādyaiḥ: by worship, battle, trade, etc.
• ijyā-yuddha-vaṇijya-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ijyā (प्रातिपदिक) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṇijya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; 'इज्यादिभिः' = by worship, warfare, trade, etc.

• karmabhiḥ: by deeds/acts
• karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• kṛta-pāvanāḥ: purified (made pure)
• kṛta-pāvanāḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ/कृ (धातु) क्त) + pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः: 'कृतं पावनं येषाम्' (made pure / having purification effected)

Speakers

• Not explicit in provided excerpt (often framed as Pulastya instructing Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Varna duties
• Karma and purification
• Social order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes svadharma: purification and merit arise when each social group performs its appropriate, socially sustaining duties (ritual, protection, commerce, service) in a righteous manner.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily Dharma-śāstra-like instruction rather than the five classic purāṇic marks; it aligns most closely with Ācāra/Dharma material often embedded within Vamśānucarita-era teaching contexts, but it is not itself sarga/pratisarga/vamśa.

What is the symbolic significance?

The triad of ijyā–yuddha–vaṇijyā symbolizes the maintenance of cosmic and social order: sacred rite (ṛta), protection (kṣatra), and prosperity (artha). Purification is presented as functional and ethical, not merely ascetic.