Shloka 3

Names of Priyavrata’s Sons; Division of the Seven Continents; Sapta-dvīpa and Meru Description; Nābhi–Ṛṣabha–Bharata Lineage

Devanagari script

जातिस्मरा महाभागा नैराज्याय ममो दषुः / विभज्य सप्त द्वीपानि सप्तानां प्रददौ नृपः

Transliteration

jātismarā mahābhāgā nairājyāya mamo daṣuḥ / vibhajya sapta dvīpāni saptānāṃ pradadau nṛpaḥ

Translation

The noble lady, endowed with memory of past births, urged me toward renunciation. Then the king, dividing the seven continents, bestowed them upon seven rulers.

Word by Word

• jāti-smarāḥ: remembering (their) births
• jāti-smarāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāti (प्रातिपदिक) + smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (jātim smaranti iti)

• mahā-bhāgāḥ: greatly fortunate
• mahā-bhāgāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (mahān bhāgaḥ yeṣām)

• nairājyāya: for renunciation/for a life of detachment
• nairājyāya: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• udaṣuḥ: they gave
• udaṣuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; रूपम्—‘udaṣuḥ’ (they gave)

• vibhajya: having divided
• vibhajya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vibhaj (धातु) → vibhajya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः—‘having divided’

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्यावाचक; द्वीपानि इति विशेषण

• dvīpāni: islands/continents
• dvīpāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• saptānām: of the seven (persons)
• saptānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (of the seven)

• pradadau: gave/granted
• pradadau: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative discourse to Garuda) — attribution based on the common Vishnu–Garuda dialogue frame; exact speaker may vary by recension

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jāti-smaraṇa (memory of past births) can catalyze vairāgya (renunciation); yet dharmic governance proceeds through orderly division and delegation.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya as fruit of saṃsāra-darśana; harmonizing nivṛtti (inner release) with loka-saṅgraha (outer order).

Application: Use reflective insight (life review, impermanence) to reduce attachment while still fulfilling responsibilities through delegation and fair distribution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: cosmographic regions

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sapta-dvīpa descriptions likely follow this allocation; Garuda Purana: cosmological measurements and dvipa/ocean schema in nearby chapters

FAQs

What is the importance of jātismara (memory of past births) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses a jātismara figure to show how past-life insight can awaken dispassion and redirect a person—here, even a ruler—toward renunciation and higher spiritual goals.

How does this verse relate to dharma and the path of the soul?

By portraying a king who relinquishes or decentralizes power (dividing the seven dvīpas), the verse highlights detachment and righteous duty as supports for inner liberation rather than mere worldly sovereignty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate remembrance (reflection on consequences, mortality, and values) to reduce attachment, and practice responsible delegation—using authority as service, not possession.