Shloka 40

प्रियव्रतवंशवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीपविभागः, जम्बूद्वीप-वर्षविभागः, भरत-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

विष्वग्ज्योतिःप्रधानास् ते यैर् इमा वर्धिताः प्रजाः तैर् इदं भारतं वर्षं नवभेदम् अलंकृतम्

Transliteration

viṣvagjyotiḥpradhānās te yair imā vardhitāḥ prajāḥ tair idaṃ bhārataṃ varṣaṃ navabhedam alaṃkṛtam

Translation

Those illustrious ones—foremost in the all-pervading splendor—by whom these peoples were fostered and increased: by them this Bhārata-varṣa was adorned and ordered into nine distinct divisions.

Word by Word

• विष्वक्: everywhere, universally
• विष्वक्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विष्वक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb

• ज्योतिः: light, radiance
• ज्योतिः: Viśeṣya (Head noun within compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रधानाः: chief, foremost
• प्रधानाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ते: they, those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• यैः: by whom/with which
• यैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वर्धिताः: were increased, were made to grow
• वर्धिताः: Kriyā (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक

• प्रजाः: creatures, subjects, progeny
• प्रजाः: Karta (Subject of passive/कर्मणि कर्तृस्थानी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भारतं: Bhārata
• भारतं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• वर्षम्: region/land (varṣa)
• वर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; समासपूर्वपद

• भेदम्: division, distinction
• भेदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अलंकृतम्: adorned, arranged, furnished
• अलंकृतम्: Kriyā (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलंकृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Structure and division of Bhārata-varṣa and its peoples

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas (regions)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhārata is portrayed as an ordered, purposefully structured realm, shaped by luminous progenitors for the flourishing of peoples.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: See human society as sustained by inherited institutions and responsibilities; cultivate stewardship rather than mere possession of land.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied cosmic order: the world is an organized body (śarīra) fit for the jīvas’ experience and dharma under the Lord’s governance.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Bhārata-varṣa
• Prajāḥ (subjects/peoples)

FAQs

What is the significance of the nine divisions (nava-bheda) of Bhārata-varṣa in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Bhārata-varṣa as intentionally ordered into nine divisions, presenting sacred geography as a dharmic structure shaped by illustrious nurturers of the people, not as a random landscape.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between rulers and the flourishing of prajāḥ (subjects)?

Parāśara highlights that the prosperity and increase of prajāḥ depend on pre-eminent, radiant leaders—those who sustain society through order and protection—thereby ‘adorning’ the land through governance.

What is the theological importance of Lord Viṣṇu in this context of geography and sovereignty?

Even when Viṣṇu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic worldview treats righteous sovereignty and ordered geography as expressions of Viṣṇu’s sustaining power—cosmic order mirrored in human administration.