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Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

द्वीपात्तु द्विगुणो द्वीपः समुद्रश्च वृषध्वज / जम्बूद्वीपे स्थितो मेरुर्लक्षयोजनविस्तृतः

Transliteration

dvīpāttu dviguṇo dvīpaḥ samudraśca vṛṣadhvaja / jambūdvīpe sthito merurlakṣayojanavistṛtaḥ

Translation

O Vṛṣadhvaja, Bearer of the Bull-banner, each succeeding dvīpa is said to be twice the size of the one before it, and so too each encircling ocean. In Jambūdvīpa stands Mount Meru, a hundred thousand yojanas in breadth.

Word by Word
द्वीपात्from the island
द्वीपात्:
Apadana (Source)
TypeNoun
Rootद्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन
तुindeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (particle)
द्विगुणःdouble
द्विगुणः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वि (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘द्वि-गुण’ = twofold
द्वीपःthe island
द्वीपः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootद्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
समुद्रःthe ocean
समुद्रः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसमुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
वृषध्वजO Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
वृषध्वज:
Sambodhana (Address)
TypeNoun
Rootवृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः’ (whose banner is a bull)
जम्बूद्वीपेin Jambūdvīpa
जम्बूद्वीपे:
Adhikarana (Location)
TypeNoun
Rootजम्बू (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘जम्बू-द्वीप’
स्थितःsituated
स्थितः:
Karma (Predicate/State of subject)
TypeVerb
Root√स्था (धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘standing/located’
मेरुःMount Meru
मेरुः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
लक्षयोजनविस्तृतःextending for a hundred-thousand yojanas
लक्षयोजनविस्तृतः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootलक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘लक्ष-योजन-विस्तृत’ = spread over a lakh yojanas
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

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.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain / cosmic axis

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.8-9 (Meru dimensions and surrounding regions)

Characters & Entities
J
Jambūdvīpa
M
Meru
S
Samudra
V
Vṛṣadhvaja

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.

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