Shloka 7

Adhyaya 54 — Cosmography of Jambudvipa: Continents, Oceans, Varshas, and Mount Meru

Sanskrit

लवणेक्षु-सुरा-सर्पिर्दधि-दुग्ध-जलाब्धिभिः ।

द्विगुणैर्द्विगुणैर्वृद्ध्या सर्वतः परिवेष्टिताः ॥

Transliteration

lavaṇekṣu-surā-sarpir-dadhi-dugdha-jalābdhibhiḥ | dviguṇair dviguṇair vṛddhyā sarvataḥ pariveṣṭitāḥ ||

Translation

وهي مُحاطةٌ من كلِّ الجهات ببحارٍ: بحرِ الملح، وبحرِ عصيرِ قصبِ السكر، وبحرِ الخمر، وبحرِ السمنِ المصفّى (ghee)، وبحرِ الخَثارة (curds)، وبحرِ اللبن، وبحرِ الماءِ العذب—وكلُّ بحرٍ تالٍ يزدادُ ضعفين عمّا قبله.

Word by Word

• लवण: salt
• लवण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); समासाङ्ग

• इक्षु: sugarcane
• इक्षु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); समासाङ्ग

• सुरा: liquor
• सुरा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); समासाङ्ग

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); समासाङ्ग

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); समासाङ्ग

• दुग्ध: milk
• दुग्ध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); समासाङ्ग

• जल: water
• जल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound); समासाङ्ग

• अब्दिभिः: by oceans/seas
• अब्दिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्दि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• द्विगुणैः: double (in size/extent)
• द्विगुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (अब्दिभिः)

• द्विगुणैः: (again) double
• द्विगुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• वृद्ध्या: by increase/growth
• वृद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रकारे (by growth/increase)

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभाव-निष्पन्न क्रियाविशेषण (from all sides)

• परिवेष्टिताः: surrounded/encircled
• परिवेष्टिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (having been surrounded)

Speakers

• Unnamed Purāṇic narrator describing cosmic geography (frame-speakers not explicit in this excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Sacred Geography
• Mythic Oceans
• Purāṇic Measurements

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The cosmos is portrayed as abundant and multi-layered; the diversity of oceans suggests creation as plenitude rather than scarcity, inviting reverence and restraint in human consumption.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Falls under 'Sthāna' (the ordered arrangement of the world), a standard Purāṇic cosmological element.

What is the esoteric significance?

The differing oceans may be read as successive sheaths of experience (from coarse taste like salt to refined sweetness like pure water), implying graded purification as one moves outward/inward.