Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

जम्बूवृक्षप्रमाणस् तु तन्मध्ये सुमहांस् तरुः प्लक्षस् तन्नामसंज्ञो ऽयं प्लक्षद्वीपो द्विजोत्तम

Transliteration

jambūvṛkṣapramāṇas tu tanmadhye sumahāṃs taruḥ plakṣas tannāmasaṃjño 'yaṃ plakṣadvīpo dvijottama

Translation

In seiner Mitte steht ein mächtiger Baum, an Ausmaß dem Jambū-Baum gleich. Dieser große Baum heißt Plakṣa; und nach seinem Namen, o Bester der Zweimalgeborenen, wird dieses Land Plakṣa-dvīpa genannt.

Word by Word

जम्बूवृक्षप्रमाणःof the size of a Jambū tree

तुindeed

तत्of that (island)

मध्येin the middle

सुमहान्very great

तरुःtree

प्लक्षःa plakṣa tree

तत्of that (tree)

नामname

संज्ञःdesignated/called

अयम्this

प्लक्षद्वीपःPlakṣa-dvīpa (the island)

द्विजोत्तमO best of twice-born

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Cosmography of Plakṣadvīpa—its central tree and naming rationale

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: descriptive

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas

Characters & Entities

Parāśara

Maitreya

Jambū tree (Jambūvṛkṣa)

Plakṣa tree

Plakṣa-dvīpa

FAQs

What is the significance of the Plakṣa tree in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that Plakṣa-dvīpa is named after the immense central Plakṣa tree, showing how each dvīpa is identified through a defining cosmic landmark.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the naming of continents (dvīpas)?

Parāśara presents a systematic cosmography where a principal feature—here, the central tree—gives the dvīpa its name, indicating an ordered and intelligible universe.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this geographical description?

Even when describing geography, the Purana’s intent is to depict a cosmos arranged and sustained by the Supreme Reality, Vishnu—an ordered world that reflects divine governance rather than randomness.