Shloka 4

Jambūdvīpa Orientation: Meru-Centered Varṣas, Dvīpas, Kulaparvatas, Rivers, and Janapadas

Devanagari script

सिद्धिः स्वाभाविकी रुद्र ! वर्जयित्वा तु भारतम् / इन्द्रद्वीपः कशेरुमांस्ताम्रवर्णो गभस्तितमान्

Transliteration

siddhiḥ svābhāvikī rudra ! varjayitvā tu bhāratam / indradvīpaḥ kaśerumāṃstāmravarṇo gabhastitamān

Translation

يا رُدرا، إن نظامَ الكونِ سِدْهٌ طبيعيٌّ قائمٌ بذاته. وباستثناءِ بهاراتا، فثمّةُ أقاليمُ أُخرى مثلُ إِندْرَدْوِيپَة، الغنيّةِ بنباتِ كَشِيرُو، ذاتِ لونٍ نحاسيٍّ، المتلألئةِ بأشعّةِ النور.

Word by Word

• सिद्धिः: attainment/perfection
• सिद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वाभाविकी: natural/innate
• स्वाभाविकी: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाभाविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सिद्धेः)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• वर्जयित्वा: excluding/excepting
• वर्जयित्वा: None (Gerundial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having excluded/excepting'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: None (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात)

• भारतम्: Bhārata (region)
• भारतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग as region-name; here object-form), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इन्द्रद्वीपः: Indradvīpa
• इन्द्रद्वीपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रस्य द्वीपः)

• कशेरुमान्: possessing kaśeru (a kind of plant/feature)
• कशेरुमान्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कशेरु + मतुप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् (possessive)

• ताम्रवर्णः: copper-colored
• ताम्रवर्णः: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (ताम्रः वर्णः यस्य)

• गभस्तितमान्: very radiant/most beaming
• गभस्तितमान्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गभस्ति + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'तम' प्रत्यय (superlative/intensive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order and ‘success/establishment’ (siddhi) are inherent in creation—an impersonal, self-sustaining law.

Vedantic Theme: niyati/ṛta and īśvara-sṛṣṭi as orderly; encourages discernment between the changing worlds and the underlying order.

Application: Cultivate trust in moral-causal order while maintaining personal responsibility; reflect on the lawful structure behind experience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dvīpa/island regions in purāṇic cosmography

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55 (dvīpa enumeration; contrast with Bhārata)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Bhārata
• Indradvīpa

FAQs

What is the importance of Indradvīpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists Indradvīpa as one of the regions beyond Bhārata, characterized by natural abundance (kaśeru) and a distinctive radiant, copper-like appearance—supporting the Purana’s cosmographic mapping of the world.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching?

Here the text shifts to cosmography—describing lands and their qualities—framing human life in Bhārata within a larger cosmic order that is presented as ‘svābhāvika’ (inherent/natural).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to see one’s duties and ethical living (dharma) within a wider cosmic perspective—cultivating humility and steadiness rather than narrow, self-centered aims.