Shloka 25
सप्तद्वीप-समुद्र-प्रमाणम्: प्लक्षादि-द्वीपवर्णनं, लोकालोक-सीमा, चन्द्र-समुद्र-वृद्धिक्षयः
तत्रापि पर्वताः सप्त विज्ञेया रत्नयोनयः वर्षाभिव्यञ्जकास् ते तु तथा सप्तैव निम्नगाः
tatrāpi parvatāḥ sapta vijñeyā ratnayonayaḥ varṣābhivyañjakās te tu tathā saptaiva nimnagāḥ
There too one should know seven mountains—sources of precious gems—by which the varṣas are distinguished; and likewise there are exactly seven rivers flowing through the lowlands.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Topography of Śālmaladvīpa: seven gem-bearing mountains and seven rivers marking the varṣas.
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas
Concept: The landscape is presented as a purposeful arrangement—mountains and rivers function as cosmic markers distinguishing regions.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Contemplate nature as meaningful order; practice gratitude and stewardship toward mountains/rivers as sacred supports of life.
Vishishtadvaita: Natural forms (parvata, nadī) are real constituents of the Lord’s body-world, serving His ordered governance (niyamanam).
FAQs
They function as cosmic markers that define and differentiate the varṣas (regions), expressing an ordered world-structure rather than a random geography.
Parāśara describes a systematic layout in which specific mountain ranges and river systems serve as identifiers and boundaries, presenting the world as a coherent, classifiable whole.
Even when the verse speaks of mountains and rivers, the Purāṇa frames such order as grounded in Vishnu’s sovereignty—cosmic structure reflecting the Supreme Reality that sustains and regulates the universe.