Shloka 18

प्रियव्रतवंशवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीपविभागः, जम्बूद्वीप-वर्षविभागः, भरत-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

हेमकूटं तथा वर्षं ददौ किंपुरुषाय सः तृतीयं नैषधं वर्षं हरिवर्षाय दत्तवान्

Transliteration

hemakūṭaṃ tathā varṣaṃ dadau kiṃpuruṣāya saḥ tṛtīyaṃ naiṣadhaṃ varṣaṃ harivarṣāya dattavān

Translation

He bestowed Hemakūṭa-varṣa upon the Kimpuruṣas; and as the third division he granted Naiṣadha-varṣa to Harivarṣa.

Word by Word

• हेमकूटम्: Hemakūṭa (region)
• हेमकूटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमकूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नाम)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• वर्षम्: region, varṣa
• वर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किंपुरुषाय: to Kiṃpuruṣa
• किंपुरुषाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंपुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तृतीयम्: the third
• तृतीयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रमवाचक, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (वर्षम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• नैषधम्: Naiṣadha (region)
• नैषधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नाम)

• वर्षम्: region, varṣa
• वर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरिवर्षाय: to Harivarṣa
• हरिवर्षाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिवर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्तवान्: gave (having given)
• दत्तवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त, past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (he having given = he gave)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Which varṣa belongs to which ruler/people within Jambūdvīpa.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: precise, enumerative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Orderly distribution (vibhāga) is a dharmic act that stabilizes society and mirrors cosmic arrangement.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice fairness in allocating resources and responsibilities; avoid favoritism, and align distribution with capability and role.

Vishishtadvaita: Plural realms function as coordinated ‘modes’ within a single cosmic body—unity expressed through ordered diversity.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Nyāya in distribution (equitable, orderly apportionment of realms)

Key Kings: Kiṃpuruṣa

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Kimpuruṣas
• Hemakūṭa-varṣa
• Naiṣadha-varṣa
• Harivarṣa

FAQs

What is the significance of varṣa-division in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse shows the Purāṇa’s view of the world as an ordered, apportioned cosmos—regions (varṣas) are assigned to specific beings/peoples, reflecting a structured universal governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order in this chapter?

Through a systematic listing of Jambūdvīpa’s regions and their recipients, Parāśara presents geography as a dharmic arrangement—each realm has a defined place and purpose within the whole.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the narrative implies a cosmos sustained by supreme sovereignty—an ordered creation that ultimately depends on Vishnu as the ground of stability and law.