Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 32

Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation

Devanagari script

जम्बूप्लक्षशाल्मलिकुशक्रौञ्चशाकपुष्करसंज्ञास्तेषां परिमाणं पूर्वस्मात्पूर्वस्मादुत्तर उत्तरो यथासंख्यं द्विगुणमानेन बहि: समन्तत उपक्‍ल‍ृप्ता: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

jambū-plakṣa-śālmali-kuśa-krauñca-śāka-puṣkara-saṁjñās teṣāṁ parimāṇaṁ pūrvasmāt pūrvasmād uttara uttaro yathā-saṅkhyaṁ dvi-guṇa-mānena bahiḥ samantata upakḷptāḥ.

Translation

The islands are named Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmali, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara. Each island is, in order, twice the size of the one before it, and each is encircled by a liquid substance, beyond which lies the next island.

Synonyms

• jambū-plakṣa-śālmali-kuśa-krauñca-śāka-puṣkara-saṁjñāḥ: named Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmali, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, Puṣkara
• jambū-plakṣa-śālmali-kuśa-krauñca-śāka-puṣkara-saṁjñāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jambū (प्रातिपदिक) + plakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śālmali (प्रातिपदिक) + kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + krauñca (प्रातिपदिक) + śāka (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṁjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; bahu-tatpuruṣa: 'having the names Jambū, Plakṣa, ... Puṣkara' (qualifying dvīpāḥ understood)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• parimāṇam: the extent/measure
• parimāṇam: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parimāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; here as subject/topic 'the measure'

• pūrvasmāt: from the former
• pūrvasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; comparative base 'from the former'

• pūrvasmāt: from the former
• pūrvasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative (5th), Singular; repeated for each step

• uttaraḥ: the next
• uttaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; 'the next'

• uttaraḥ: the next
• uttaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; iterative 'each next'

• yathā-saṅkhyam: in order
• yathā-saṅkhyam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + saṅkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; adverb 'in due order/according to number'

• dvi-guṇa-mānena: by a double measure
• dvi-guṇa-mānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (संख्या) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; द्विगु/तत्पुरुष: 'by a measure of double (each time)'

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• samantataḥ: all around
• samantataḥ: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'on all sides'

• upakḷptāḥ: were arranged
• upakḷptāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-kḷp (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; agreeing with dvīpāḥ understood; 'arranged/placed'

Purport

The ocean in each planetary system has a different type of liquid. How they are situated is explained in the next verse.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the seven dvīpas (islands) of Bhū-maṇḍala?

It names seven dvīpas—Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmali, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara—and states they are arranged outwardly, each encircling the next.

How are the sizes of the dvīpas described in Bhagavatam Canto 5?

This verse explains that each successive dvīpa is twice the size of the previous one, in a fixed sequential order.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from Bhagavatam’s cosmology descriptions?

They cultivate humility and reverence for the Lord’s vast creation, encouraging steadiness in bhakti by remembering that all worlds exist within His arrangement.