Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

श्वेतो ऽथ हरितश् चैव जीमूतो रोहितस् तथा वैद्युतो मानसश् चैव सुप्रभश् च महामुने

Transliteration

śveto 'tha haritaś caiva jīmūto rohitas tathā vaidyuto mānasaś caiva suprabhaś ca mahāmune

Translation

“Śveta, then Harita; Jīmūta and likewise Rohita; Vaidyuta and Mānasa; and also Suprabha—these are their names, O great sage.”

Word by Word

• श्वेतः: Śveta
• श्वेतः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• हरितः: Harita
• हरितः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (only/indeed)

• जीमूतः: Jīmūta
• जीमूतः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीमूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• रोहितः: Rohita
• रोहितः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्व (likewise/and also)

• वैद्युतः: Vaidyuta
• वैद्युतः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• मानसः: Mānasa
• मानसः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• सुप्रभः: Suprabha
• सुप्रभः: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-प्रभः = ‘very/beautifully bright’) नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् मुनिः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Names of Vapuṣmān’s seven sons (eponyms of the varṣas).

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Śveta
• Harita
• Jīmūta
• Rohita
• Vaidyuta
• Mānasa
• Suprabha

FAQs

What is the significance of listing names like Śveta, Harita, and Suprabha in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse preserves a formal enumeration used to map cosmic order—showing that the universe is governed through specific, named powers and roles rather than randomness.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic administration in this section?

Parāśara teaches through structured catalogues—naming the members within a class of beings—so Maitreya can understand the universe as an organized system operating under higher law.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Purāṇic framework assumes these ordered cosmic functions ultimately depend on Vishnu as the supreme ground and governor of dharma and cosmic rhythm.