Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

पुलन्दाश्मकजीमूतनयराष्ट्रनिवासिनः / कर्णार्(ना)टकम्बोजघणा दक्षिणापथवासिनः

Transliteration

pulandāśmakajīmūtanayarāṣṭranivāsinaḥ / karṇār(nā)ṭakambojaghaṇā dakṣiṇāpathavāsinaḥ

Translation

Die Bewohner der Länder Pulinda, Aśmaka, Jīmūta, Naya und Rāṣṭra sowie die Völker von Karṇāṭa, Kamboja und die Ghaṇas—sie alle sind Bewohner des Dakṣiṇāpatha, der südlichen Region.

Word by Word

• पुलन्दाश्मकजीमूतनयराष्ट्रनिवासिनः: inhabitants of the Pulanda, Ashmaka, Jīmūtanaya, and Rāṣṭra (countries)
• पुलन्दाश्मकजीमूतनयराष्ट्रनिवासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलन्द + अश्मक + जीमूतनय + राष्ट्र + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (पुलन्द-अश्मक-जीमूतनय-राष्ट्रेषु निवासिनः)

• कर्णाटकम्बोजघणाः: the Karnatakas, Kambojas, and Ghaṇas
• कर्णाटकम्बोजघणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णाटक + अम्बोज + घण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कर्णाटकाः च अम्बोजाः च घणाः च); पाठभेद-सूचना (कर्णार्/कर्णा- इत्यादि)

• दक्षिणापथवासिनः: dwellers of the Dakṣiṇāpatha (southern route/Deccan)
• दक्षिणापथवासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणापथ + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणापथस्य वासिनः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world of human communities is organized into large cultural corridors (patha) that structure travel, exchange, and dharma practice.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-bheda (pragmatic differentiation) within one earth: many communities, one shared field of action (karma-bhūmi).

Application: For textual interpretation and historical geography, treat ‘Dakṣiṇāpatha’ as a corridor concept, not merely a compass direction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: macro-region/travel corridor (dakṣiṇāpatha) with janapadas

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55.14; Garuda Purana 1.55.16

Characters & Entities

• Pulinda
• Aśmaka
• Karṇāṭa
• Kamboja
• Dakṣiṇāpatha

FAQs

What is the importance of Dakṣiṇāpatha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses Dakṣiṇāpatha as a traditional geographic-civilizational category, grouping multiple peoples/regions under the ‘southern route/Deccan’ framework used in Purāṇic descriptions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it provides geographic classification that supports the Purāṇa’s broader cosmological and cultural mapping used alongside its afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a reminder that Garuda Purana teachings are framed within a wide sacred geography—encouraging respect for diverse regions and traditions while focusing on the text’s ethical and ritual guidance elsewhere.