Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

पश्चिमे केतुमालश्च रम्यकः पश्चिमोत्तरे / उत्तरे च कुरोर्वर्षः कल्पवृक्षसमावृतः

Transliteration

paścime ketumālaśca ramyakaḥ paścimottare / uttare ca kurorvarṣaḥ kalpavṛkṣasamāvṛtaḥ

Translation

পশ্চিমে কেতুমাল-বৰ্ষ, উত্তৰ-পশ্চিমে ৰম্যক-বৰ্ষ; আৰু উত্তৰে কুরু-বৰ্ষ, যি চাৰিওফালে কল্পবৃক্ষৰে আৱৃত।

Word by Word

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पश्चिमम्), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; देशवाचक

• केतुमालः: Ketumāla (region)
• केतुमालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (केतु + माल)

• च: and
• च: None (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• रम्यकः: Ramyaka (region)
• रम्यकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पश्चिमोत्तरे: in the north-west
• पश्चिमोत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पश्चिमोत्तरम्), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (north-west)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (उत्तरम्), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; देशवाचक

• च: and
• च: None (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• कुरोः: of Kuru
• कुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• वर्षः: region/varṣa
• वर्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कल्पवृक्षसमावृतः: covered with wish-fulfilling trees
• कल्पवृक्षसमावृतः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पवृक्ष + समावृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'समावृत' from सम्+आ+वृ (धातु) + क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कल्पवृक्षैः समावृतः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Different regions embody different karmic conditions—some characterized by effortless abundance (kalpavṛkṣa).

Vedantic Theme: karma-vipāka shaping experiential worlds; bhoga-loka contrasted with human striving (implicit).

Application: Use the image of effortless abundance to reflect on impermanence of enjoyments and to prioritize inner cultivation over external plenty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: varṣa regions of Jambūdvīpa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55 (continuation of Meru-centric varṣa enumeration)

Characters & Entities

• Ketumala
• Ramyaka
• Kuru
• Kalpavriksha

FAQs

What is the importance of Ketumāla, Ramyaka, and Kuru-varṣa in the Garuda Purana?

They are named varṣas (major regions) used in Purāṇic cosmography to map the sacred geography of Bhū-maṇḍala, indicating directional divisions and distinctive qualities of each land.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse is primarily cosmological rather than funerary; it situates the world’s regions, which helps frame later descriptions of realms, directions, and the broader universe within which post-death journeys are narrated.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that the Purana teaches a structured, value-laden view of the cosmos—encouraging reverence for sacred geography and cultivating humility about one’s place in the larger order (dharma).