Shloka 6

Devanagari script

भारतस्यास्य वर्षस्य नव भेदान् निशामय इन्द्रद्वीपः कसेरुश् च ताम्रपर्णो गभस्तिमान्

Transliteration

bhāratasyāsya varṣasya nava bhedān niśāmaya indradvīpaḥ kaseruś ca tāmraparṇo gabhastimān

Translation

Listen well as I set forth the nine divisions of this land called Bhārata—Indradvīpa, Kasēru, Tāmraparṇa, and Gabastimān.

Word by Word

• भारतस्य: of Bhārata
• भारतस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (as varṣa-name; often treated neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वर्षस्य: of the region/continent (varṣa)
• वर्षस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable-like here), 'nine'

• भेदान्: divisions
• भेदान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• निशामय: observe; listen (to)
• निशामय: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√शम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• इन्द्रद्वीपः: Indra-dvīpa (a division)
• इन्द्रद्वीपः: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रस्य द्वीपः)

• कसेरुः: Kaseru
• कसेरुः: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कसेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताम्रपर्णः: Tāmraparṇa
• ताम्रपर्णः: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (ताम्रं पर्णं यस्य/ताम्रपर्णः) नामरूपेण

• गभस्तिमान्: Gabhastimān (radiant; name)
• गभस्तिमान्: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गभस्ति + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive: 'having rays')

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Geographical/cosmographical description of Bhārata-varṣa and its divisions.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata-varṣa
• Indradvīpa
• Kaseru
• Tāmraparṇa
• Gabhastimān

FAQs

What is the significance of the nine divisions of Bhārata-varṣa in the Vishnu Purana?

They present a sacred-geographical ordering of the human world, framing Bhārata as a structured realm within cosmic law (dharma) as taught in Purāṇic cosmology.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Bhārata-varṣa’s structure here?

In a teacher–disciple narration to Maitreya, Parāśara begins listing the named divisions of Bhārata-varṣa, using an enumerative style typical of the Bhuvana-kośa sections.

What is Lord Vishnu’s theological importance in this geographical context?

Even when describing places, the Purāṇa implies a cosmos upheld by Vishnu as the supreme regulator—geography becomes a map of order within his sustaining power.