Shloka 38

सप्तद्वीप-समुद्र-प्रमाणम्: प्लक्षादि-द्वीपवर्णनं, लोकालोक-सीमा, चन्द्र-समुद्र-वृद्धिक्षयः

Devanagari script

वर्णास् तत्रापि चत्वारो निजानुष्ठानतत्पराः दमिनः शुष्मिणः स्नेहा मन्देहाश् च महामुने

Transliteration

varṇās tatrāpi catvāro nijānuṣṭhānatatparāḥ daminaḥ śuṣmiṇaḥ snehā mandehāś ca mahāmune

Translation

হে মহামুনে, তাতো চাৰিটা বৰ্ণ আছে, যিসকলে নিজ নিজ নিয়ত আচৰণত নিবিষ্ট—দমিন, শুষ্মিণ, স্নেহ আৰু মন্দেহ।

Word by Word

• वर्णाः: social classes (varṇas)
• वर्णाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• निजानुष्ठानतत्पराः: devoted to their own prescribed duties
• निजानुष्ठानतत्पराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज + अनुष्ठान + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: निज, अनुष्ठान, तत्पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (निजे अनुष्ठाने तत्पराः)

• दमिनः: Damins (a group/name)
• दमिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नाम (proper name)

• शुष्मिणः: Śuṣmins (a group/name)
• शुष्मिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नाम

• स्नेहाः: Snehās (a group/name)
• स्नेहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नाम

• मन्देहाः: Mandehās (a group/name)
• मन्देहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: महा + मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् मुनिः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Damina
• Śuṣmin
• Sneha
• Mandeha

FAQs

What is the significance of describing four classes (varṇas) in this context of the Vishnu Purana?

This verse emphasizes that dharma—ordered duty and discipline—operates as a universal principle across regions, not merely as a human social arrangement.

How does Sage Parāśara explain social order in different realms or regions?

By listing region-specific groups who are each “devoted to their own observances,” Parāśara frames cosmic geography as morally structured—inhabitants are defined by adherence to their assigned functions.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s cosmology presumes Vishnu as the sustaining ground of ṛta/dharma—orderly duty in every realm reflects the Supreme’s governance of creation.