Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

सुरम्याणि तथा तासु काननानि पुराणि च लक्ष्मीविष्ण्वग्निसूर्यादिदेवानां मुनिसत्तम तास्व् आयतनवर्याणि जुष्टानि वरकिंनरैः

Transliteration

suramyāṇi tathā tāsu kānanāni purāṇi ca lakṣmīviṣṇvagnisūryādidevānāṃ munisattama tāsv āyatanavaryāṇi juṣṭāni varakiṃnaraiḥ

Translation

And in those regions, O best of sages, are delightful forests—ancient and renowned—together with splendid sanctuaries of deities such as Lakṣmī, Viṣṇu, Agni, Sūrya, and others; those exalted shrines are frequented and cherished by the noble Kiṃnaras.

Word by Word

• सुरम्याणि: very beautiful
• सुरम्याणि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

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

• तासु: in them
• तासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• काननानि: forests
• काननानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्

• पुराणि: ancient
• पुराणि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• लक्ष्मी-विष्णु-अग्नि-सूर्य-आदि-देवानाम्: of the gods such as Lakṣmī, Viṣṇu, Agni, and Sūrya
• लक्ष्मी-विष्णु-अग्नि-सूर्य-आदि-देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचनम्; समासः—लक्ष्मी-विष्णु-अग्नि-सूर्य-आदयः देवाः येषां ते (समाहार/सूची-समासः; व्यवहारतः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• मुनि-सत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचनम्; समासः—मुनिषु सत्तमः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• तासु: in them
• तासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• आयतन-वर्याणि: excellent shrines/abodes
• आयतन-वर्याणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (वर्याणि आयतनानि)

• जुष्टानि: frequented
• जुष्टानि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जुष्ट (कृदन्त; √जुष् (धातु) → क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः

• वर-किन्नरैः: by noble Kinnaras
• वर-किन्नरैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive sense/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + किन्नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (वराः किन्नराः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sacred forests and renowned sanctuaries of deities in Meru-adjacent regions

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred space (kānana, āyatana) is portrayed as a locus where divine presence is honored and beings naturally incline toward worship.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Create and maintain a small, disciplined sacred space (home altar/quiet grove-like corner) to stabilize daily remembrance and reverence.

Vishishtadvaita: Divine presence is approachable through consecrated forms and places, aligning devotion to the personal Lord (Viṣṇu) with reverence for His inseparable Śrī.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Agni
• Surya
• Kinnaras

FAQs

What is the significance of sacred forests and shrines in Vishnu Purana Book 2?

They function as markers of cosmic order—showing that the world’s geography is not merely physical but also sanctified by enduring divine presence and worship.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the world’s regions to Maitreya in this context?

He describes the regions as containing ancient forests and established deity-abodes, presenting a mapped cosmos where spiritual centers are embedded within the landscape.

What is the theological importance of Lord Viṣṇu here?

Viṣṇu appears as a principal divine focus whose sanctuaries are integral to the world’s structure, implying sovereignty that pervades and stabilizes the cosmos through sacred institutions.