Shloka 12

भू-मण्डलसंक्षेपवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्राः, मेरु-मानम्, गङ्गावतरणम्, देववन-सरोवर-लोकपालपुर्यः

Devanagari script

लक्षप्रमाणौ द्वौ मध्यौ दशहीनास् तथापरे सहस्रद्वितयोच्छ्रायास् तावद्विस्तारिणश् च ते

Transliteration

lakṣapramāṇau dvau madhyau daśahīnās tathāpare sahasradvitayocchrāyās tāvadvistāriṇaś ca te

Translation

Two of the central ones measure a hundred thousand (in extent). The others are each ten thousand less than the preceding. Their height is two thousand, and their breadth is the same as their height.

Word by Word

• लक्षप्रमाणौ: having a measure of one lakh
• लक्षप्रमाणौ: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (लक्षं प्रमाणं ययोः)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• मध्यौ: the middle (two)
• मध्यौ: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• दशहीनाः: ten less (by ten)
• दशहीनाः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (दशभिः हीनाः = ten less)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• अपरे: the others
• अपरे: Karta (Subject: the others)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सहस्रद्वितयोच्छ्रायाः: having a height of two thousand
• सहस्रद्वितयोच्छ्रायाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वितय (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छ्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (द्वे सहस्रे उच्छ्रायः येषाम्)

• तावत्: as much / the same amount
• तावत्: Pramana (Measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/परिमाण-शब्द)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (so much/as much)

• विस्तारिणः: broad / having breadth
• विस्तारिणः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्तारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Relative extents and uniform heights/breadths of the varṣa-parvatas, including the two central ones and the decrement rule

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: systematic, mathematical

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of precise measurements in Vishnu Purana cosmology?

They present the universe as an ordered, intelligible system governed by cosmic law, reflecting Vishnu’s sovereignty as the arranger of worlds rather than a random or chaotic creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order to Maitreya in this chapter?

Parāśara uses graded, proportional dimensions—central structures being greatest and others decreasing systematically—to show a deliberate hierarchy and symmetry within the cosmos.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s cosmography functions as a testimony to Vishnu as the Supreme Reality whose will sustains measure, proportion, and stability across the worlds.