Shloka 20

प्रियव्रतवंशवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीपविभागः, जम्बूद्वीप-वर्षविभागः, भरत-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

श्वेतं यद् उत्तरं तस्मात् पित्रा दत्तं हिरण्वते

Transliteration

śvetaṃ yad uttaraṃ tasmāt pitrā dattaṃ hiraṇvate

Translation

From that time, the northern tract called Śveta was bestowed by the father upon Hiraṇvata.

Word by Word

• श्वेतम्: white
• श्वेतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; relative pronoun)

• उत्तरम्: northern
• उत्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (Ablative singular; from that)

• पित्रा: by the father
• पित्रा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देशे (Instrumental singular; by the father)

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि/विशेषणवत् (Past passive participle; neuter nom/acc sg; ‘given’)

• हिरण्वते: to Hiraṇvat (a person)
• हिरण्वते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; सम्प्रदानार्थे (Dative singular; to Hiraṇvat)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas (regions)

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: राजधर्म (orderly, rightful apportionment of sovereignty)

Key Kings: Hiraṇvata

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Hiraṇvata
• Śveta (region)

FAQs

What is the significance of Śveta as a northern region in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse Śveta is presented as a defined northern tract, illustrating how the Purāṇa maps the world into named regions and assigns them within an ordered, inherited structure.

How does Sage Parāśara explain territorial order and succession here?

Parāśara frames the region as something ‘given by the father,’ showing that lands are allotted through lineage-based succession, reinforcing a structured cosmic and social order.

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

Even when describing geography and inheritance, the Vishnu Purana treats the world as a divinely ordered system—ultimately sustained by Vishnu as the supreme ground of cosmic stability and law.