Shloka 1

Devanagari script

क्षारोदेन यथा द्वीपो जम्बूसंज्ञो ऽभिवेष्टितः संवेष्ट्य क्षारम् उदधिं प्लक्षद्वीपस् तथा स्थितः

Transliteration

kṣārodena yathā dvīpo jambūsaṃjño 'bhiveṣṭitaḥ saṃveṣṭya kṣāram udadhiṃ plakṣadvīpas tathā sthitaḥ

Translation

As Jambūdvīpa is encircled by the ocean of salt, so Plakṣadvīpa stands beyond it, surrounding that salt sea in a vast ring. Thus the worlds are arranged in concentric order, upheld by the cosmic sovereignty of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• क्षारोदेन: by the salt-water
• क्षारोदेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षारोद (प्रातिपदिक; क्षार + उद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; क्षारस्य उदः/उदकं इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; Instrumental singular

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/तुलना-बोधक (comparative particle)

• द्वीपः: island
• द्वीपः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• जम्बूसंज्ञः: named Jambū
• जम्बूसंज्ञः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जम्बू + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; जम्बू-नामक इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; adjective agreeing with द्वीपः

• अभिवेष्टितः: encircled
• अभिवेष्टितः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-√वेष्ट् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle; ‘wrapped/encircled’

• संवेष्ट्य: having surrounded
• संवेष्ट्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Gerundial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-√वेष्ट् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having encircled’

• क्षारम्: salt (saline water)
• क्षारम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• उदधिम्: ocean
• उदधिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्लक्षद्वीपः: Plakṣa island (Plakṣadvīpa)
• प्लक्षद्वीपः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्ष + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्लक्ष-नामकः द्वीपः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; Nominative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/तुलना-बोधक (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• स्थितः: is situated
• स्थितः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past participle used predicatively; ‘situated/placed’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of the concentric arrangement of dvīpas and oceans beyond Jambūdvīpa

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world-system is arranged in concentric order, indicating an intelligible cosmos upheld by the Supreme.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate cosmic order to cultivate humility and steadiness (śānti) in one’s duties.

Vishishtadvaita: The structured cosmos functions as the Lord’s body (śarīra), implying immanent governance while He remains transcendent.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Jambūdvīpa
• Kṣāra-samudra (Salt Ocean)
• Plakṣadvīpa

FAQs

What is the significance of the concentric dvīpas and oceans in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the Purāṇic model of ordered, concentric continents and seas, emphasizing a universe arranged in harmony and law—an expression of cosmic order ultimately grounded in the Supreme Lord’s governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the placement of Plakṣadvīpa?

Parāśara explains it relationally: Plakṣadvīpa lies beyond Jambūdvīpa’s salt ocean and forms the next encircling land-ring, continuing the step-by-step mapping of sacred geography.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this cosmological description?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Vishnu Purana frames cosmic structure as dependent on the Supreme Reality—Vishnu as the sustaining principle behind the universe’s stable order and intelligible design.