Shloka 15

सप्तद्वीप-समुद्र-प्रमाणम्: प्लक्षादि-द्वीपवर्णनं, लोकालोक-सीमा, चन्द्र-समुद्र-वृद्धिक्षयः

Devanagari script

पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि जना जीवन्त्य् अनामयाः धर्मः पञ्चस्व् अथैतेषु वर्णाश्रमविभागशः

Transliteration

pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi janā jīvanty anāmayāḥ dharmaḥ pañcasv athaiteṣu varṇāśramavibhāgaśaḥ

Translation

For five thousand years people live free from affliction; and in that condition dharma stands firm in fivefold measure, upheld according to the ordered distinctions of varṇa and āśrama.

Word by Word

• पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि: five thousand years
• पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि: Karma (Extent/Measure as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (पञ्चवर्षाणि सहस्राणि = five-thousand years) कालपरिमाण

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• जीवन्ति: live
• जीवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनामयाः: free from disease/healthy
• अनामयाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (जनाः)

• धर्मः: dharma (righteous order)
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पञ्चसु: in the five
• पञ्चसु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (एतेषु/द्वीपेषु implied)

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रारम्भार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• एतेषु: in these
• एतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वर्णाश्रमविभागशः: according to the division of varṇas and āśramas
• वर्णाश्रमविभागशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + विभाग (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) शस्-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुष-आधार (वर्णाश्रमस्य विभागः) + शस् = ‘according to the division of varṇa and āśrama’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Longevity and dharma-condition in those regions; varṇa-āśrama order as the social expression of dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When dharma is upheld in its ordered disciplines (varṇa and āśrama), life becomes harmonious—marked by health, longevity, and social stability.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt āśrama-appropriate disciplines (study, service, household duty, or renunciation) and align work with sattvic ethics to increase harmony in life.

Vishishtadvaita: Varṇa-āśrama is framed as a supportive order within the Lord’s real world, enabling bhakti and righteous living rather than negating worldly duties.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman (philosophical)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Varna
• Ashrama
• Yuga order

FAQs

What is the significance of long human lifespans in the Vishnu Purana’s yuga descriptions?

The verse links extended lifespan and freedom from disease with a stronger, more stable dharma, indicating that moral and cosmic order directly shapes human flourishing in a given yuga.

How does Sage Parāśara explain varṇa and āśrama in relation to dharma?

He frames dharma as functioning “by varṇa and āśrama divisions,” meaning righteous conduct becomes organized through social roles and life-stages to sustain harmony in the age.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana treats dharma and cosmic regularity as grounded in Vishnu’s supreme governance, with social order reflecting that higher sovereignty.