Shloka 7
Names of Priyavrata’s Sons; Division of the Seven Continents; Sapta-dvīpa and Meru Description; Nābhi–Ṛṣabha–Bharata Lineage
द्वीपात्तु द्विगुणो द्वीपः समुद्रश्च वृषध्वज / जम्बूद्वीपे स्थितो मेरुर्लक्षयोजनविस्तृतः
dvīpāttu dviguṇo dvīpaḥ samudraśca vṛṣadhvaja / jambūdvīpe sthito merurlakṣayojanavistṛtaḥ
O Vṛṣadhvaja, Träger des Stierbanners: Man sagt, jede folgende dvīpa sei doppelt so groß wie die vorherige, und ebenso jeder sie umgebende Ozean. In Jambūdvīpa steht der Berg Meru, hunderttausend Yojanas breit.
Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa)
Concept: Proportional expansion and centrality: the cosmos follows intelligible measures; Meru symbolizes the stable center amid expanding peripheries.
Vedantic Theme: The ‘center’ as metaphor for the Self (ātman) or Brahman—unchanging amidst changing magnitudes; contemplation supports inner steadiness.
Application: Adopt a ‘Meru principle’: keep a stable daily center (japa, meditation, ethics) while life’s outer circles expand.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: sacred mountain / cosmic axis
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.8-9 (Meru dimensions and surrounding regions)
FAQs
This verse places Meru at the center of Jambūdvīpa and presents it as a defining cosmic landmark, used to structure the Purāṇic map of the world.
It states a proportional rule: each successive continent and its encircling ocean are described as double the size of the previous, forming an expanding concentric cosmological model.
It encourages a contemplative view of the cosmos—cultivating humility and a broader perspective beyond personal concerns, which supports dharmic living.