Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वं शान्तभयं वर्षं शिशिरं सुखदं तथा आनन्दं च शिवं चैव क्षेमकं ध्रुवम् एव च

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ śāntabhayaṃ varṣaṃ śiśiraṃ sukhadaṃ tathā ānandaṃ ca śivaṃ caiva kṣemakaṃ dhruvam eva ca

Translation

In due order (the regions/varṣas) are: first Pūrvā, then Śāntabhaya; next Varṣa and Śiśira, and likewise Sukhada. Thereafter come Ānanda and Śiva, then Kṣemaka, and finally Dhruva—thus their sequence is firmly set.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial accusative ‘first/previously’ (क्रमवाचक)

• शान्तभयम्: Śāntabhaya (named)
• शान्तभयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (शान्तं भयम्); agrees with वर्षम्

• वर्षम्: region (varṣa)
• वर्षम्: कर्म (Object/listed region)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (as item being named/listed)

• शिशिरम्: Śiśira
• शिशिरम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with वर्षम् (elliptic)

• सुखदम्: Sukhada
• सुखदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + द (प्रातिपदिक; √दा ‘to give’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सुखं ददाति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कृदन्त-प्रायः; agrees with वर्षम् (elliptic)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम-बोधक (connector)

• आनन्दम्: Ānanda
• आनन्दम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (वर्ष-नाम) Accusative singular

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

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (वर्ष-नाम) Accusative singular

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• क्षेमकम्: Kṣemaka
• क्षेमकम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेमक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (वर्ष-नाम) Accusative singular

• ध्रुवम्: Dhruva
• ध्रुवम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (वर्ष-नाम) Accusative singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The ordered arrangement/naming of Plakṣadvīpa’s regional divisions (varṣas)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: systematizing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic regions are presented as ‘fixed in order,’ suggesting stability and lawfulness in the Lord-governed world.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt regularity in sādhana (daily practice) as a reflection of cosmic regularity—fixed times, fixed vows, steady conduct.

Vishishtadvaita: Order (niyati) in the world is meaningful because it inheres in a personal Supreme who coordinates parts into a unified whole.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Key Kings: Śāntabhaya, Śiśira, Sukhada, Ānanda, Śiva, Kṣemaka, Dhruva

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Saṃvatsara (Year-cycle)
• Dhruva (as ‘the fixed/steady’ year-name)

FAQs

What is the significance of naming years in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse lists specific named years as part of the Purana’s time-structure, showing time as an ordered, cyclical system upheld within cosmic governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the ordering of time (kāla) here?

He presents time through a fixed sequence of named years, emphasizing regularity and continuity rather than randomness—time moves in a patterned cycle.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana frames such calendric and cosmic regularity as part of the Supreme Reality’s sustaining power—order in time reflects divine sovereignty.