Shloka 7

Jambūdvīpa Orientation: Meru-Centered Varṣas, Dvīpas, Kulaparvatas, Rivers, and Janapadas

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्त्रिया वैश्याः सूद्राश्चान्तरवासिनः / महेन्द्रो मलयः सह्यः शुक्तिमानृक्षपर्वतः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣattriyā vaiśyāḥ sūdrāścāntaravāsinaḥ / mahendro malayaḥ sahyaḥ śuktimānṛkṣaparvataḥ

Translation

Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras—together with the dwellers of the inner regions—are mentioned; likewise the mountains Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, and Ṛkṣaparvata are enumerated.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• क्षत्त्रिया: Kshatriyas
• क्षत्त्रिया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (वैदिक/प्राकृत-प्रभावित रूप; अपेक्षितः क्षत्रियाः)

• वैश्याः: Vaishyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शूद्राः: Shudras
• शूद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्तरवासिनः: those dwelling in the interior
• अन्तरवासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर-वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक: वासिन्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—अन्तरं वसन्ति इति (locative/adhikaraṇa-तत्पुरुष)

• महेन्द्रः: Mahendra (a mountain)
• महेन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् इन्द्रः (कर्मधारय)

• मलयः: Malaya (mountain)
• मलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सह्यः: Sahya (mountain range)
• सह्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शुक्तिमान्: shell-bearing / pearl-rich
• शुक्तिमान्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ति + मत् (प्रातिपदिक: मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण (having shells/pearls)

• ऋक्षपर्वतः: Ṛkṣa mountain
• ऋक्षपर्वतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—ऋक्षाणां पर्वतः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic-social order (varṇa) mirrored by ordered sacred geography; remembrance of the land’s supports and peoples as part of dhārmic worldview.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha and īśvara-sṛṣṭi as an intelligible order; seeing the world as a structured field for dharma.

Application: Use as a mnemonic for sacred geography in pilgrimage/recitation; cultivate respect for social duties and the sanctity of the land’s tīrtha-mountains.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain ranges

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55 (tīrtha/nadī/parvata catalog context)

FAQs

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

This verse illustrates how the text maps dharma and human society onto a sacred landscape by listing social groups alongside notable mountain ranges, framing Bharata-varṣa as an ordered, sanctified realm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by situating human communities within a sacred cosmological geography, it supports the Purāṇic view that one’s life, duties, and ritual context are embedded in a divinely ordered world—background that later informs discussions on karma, rites, and post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat place and community as part of spiritual practice: uphold one’s ethical duties (dharma) within society and respect sacred landscapes/traditions that sustain ritual and cultural continuity.