Shloka 19

भारतवर्षमहात्म्यम् — कर्मभूमित्वम्, नवभेदाः, कुलपर्वताः-नद्यः-जनपदाः, युगचक्रविशेषः, यज्ञपुरुषविष्णुपूजा

Devanagari script

चत्वारि भारते वर्षे युगान्य् अत्र महामुने कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश् चान्यत्र न क्वचित्

Transliteration

catvāri bhārate varṣe yugāny atra mahāmune kṛtaṃ tretā dvāparaṃ ca kaliś cānyatra na kvacit

Translation

O great sage, only within Bhārata-varṣa is the full succession of the four Yugas found—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali; nowhere else does this complete cycle occur in the same way.

Word by Word

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• भारते: in Bhārata
• भारते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; देशवाचक

• वर्षे: in the varṣa (region)
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• युगानि: yugas (ages)
• युगानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: महा + मुनि

• कृतम्: Kṛta (age)
• कृतम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; युगनाम

• त्रेता: Tretā (age)
• त्रेता: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; युगनाम

• द्वापरम्: Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; युगनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कलिः: Kali (age)
• कलिः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; युगनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• क्वचित्: anywhere (at any time/place)
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (Indefinite location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनिश्चित-देश/कालवाचक (indefinite adverb: anywhere/ever)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sacred geography of Jambūdvīpa and the distinctiveness of Bhārata-varṣa

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Yuga: Krita/Treta/Dvapara/Kali

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas (regions)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhārata-varṣa alone manifests the complete fourfold yuga sequence, marking it as a uniquely time-structured field for dharma and spiritual striving.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat human life in Bhārata as time-sensitive: prioritize sādhana and dharma rather than postponing change.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order (yuga-dharma) is a real mode of the Lord’s governance, not illusory; time and moral law function under His sovereignty.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata-varṣa
• Kṛta-yuga
• Tretā-yuga
• Dvāpara-yuga

FAQs

What is the significance of the Four Yugas occurring in Bhārata-varṣa in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse marks Bhārata-varṣa as uniquely positioned within the Purāṇic world-system for experiencing the complete dharmic decline-and-renewal pattern of Kṛta through Kali, making it the primary arena for human spiritual striving.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the uniqueness of Bhārata-varṣa?

In his instruction to Maitreya, Parāśara highlights Bhārata-varṣa as distinct among the varṣas: it is here that the full yuga sequence is operative, shaping dharma, society, and the conditions for karma and liberation.

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

By grounding cosmic time (kāla) and the yuga order within a divinely governed universe, the Purāṇa implies Vishnu’s sovereignty as the supreme regulator of dharma and the unfolding of ages, within which beings pursue devotion and liberation.