Shloka 14

Devanagari script

कलिङ्गवङ्गपुण्ड्राङ्गा वैदर्भा मूलकास्तथा / विन्ध्यान्तर्निलया देशाः पूर्वदक्षिणतः स्मृताः

Transliteration

kaliṅgavaṅgapuṇḍrāṅgā vaidarbhā mūlakāstathā / vindhyāntarnilayā deśāḥ pūrvadakṣiṇataḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

Kaliṅga, Vaṅga, Puṇḍra, Aṅga, as well as Vidarbha and Mūlaka—and the regions lying within the Vindhya ranges—are traditionally known as the countries situated in the eastern-southern direction.

Word by Word

• कलिङ्गवङ्गपुण्ड्राङ्गाः: the Kalingas, Vangas, Pundras, and Angas
• कलिङ्गवङ्गपुण्ड्राङ्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिङ्ग + वङ्ग + पुण्ड्र + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कलिङ्गाश्च वङ्गाश्च पुण्ड्राश्च अङ्गाश्च)

• वैदर्भाः: the Vaidarbhas
• वैदर्भाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मूलकाः: the Mūlakas
• मूलकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विन्ध्यान्तर्निलयाः: dwelling within the Vindhyas
• विन्ध्यान्तर्निलयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विन्ध्य + अन्तर् + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (देशाः); समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/अव्ययीभाव-समाससदृशः अर्थः (विन्ध्य-अन्तर्-निलयाः = विन्ध्येषु अन्तः निलयः येषाम्)

• देशाः: regions/countries
• देशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पूर्वदक्षिणतः: towards the southeast / from the east-south side
• पूर्वदक्षिणतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व + दक्षिण + तस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—दिशावाचक-तसिल् (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; अव्ययीभाव (पूर्वदक्षिणतः = पूर्वदक्षिणदिशः/पूर्व-दक्षिण-भागतः)

• स्मृताः: are said/are remembered (as)
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tradition (smṛti) preserves a structured geography—plains and mountain interiors—supporting cultural continuity.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat as ordered appearance: multiplicity is mapped and remembered, aiding right orientation in worldly duties.

Application: When reading Purāṇic narratives, correlate place-names with directional clusters; treat mountain ‘interior’ as a distinct cultural zone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: directional macro-region with kingdoms and mountain hinterlands

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55.13; Garuda Purana 1.55.15

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred geography in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies well-known janapadas (regions) by direction, showing how the Purana maps Bharata-varsha through traditional dik-based geography used for cultural and pilgrimage orientation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey; it is a geographic/directional listing of regions, likely part of a broader catalog of lands within Bharata-varsha.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional reference for understanding Purāṇic regional identities and directional frameworks when studying texts, planning pilgrimages, or contextualizing historical place-names.