Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

शाकद्वीपस् तु मैत्रेय क्षीरोदेन समन्ततः शाकद्वीपप्रमाणेन वलयेनेव वेष्टितः

Transliteration

śākadvīpas tu maitreya kṣīrodena samantataḥ śākadvīpapramāṇena valayeneva veṣṭitaḥ

Translation

O Maitreya, Śākadvīpa is encircled on every side by the Ocean of Milk, which—equal in measure to Śākadvīpa itself—encloses it like a ring.

Word by Word

• शाकद्वीपः: Śākadvīpa (the island named Śāka)
• शाकद्वीपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शाकस्य द्वीपः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/पक्षान्तरसूचक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• क्षीरोदेन: by the ocean of milk
• क्षीरोदेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + उद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षीरस्य उदः = क्षीरोदः)

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense-adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘on all sides’)

• शाकद्वीपप्रमाणेन: with a measure equal to Śākadvīpa (in extent)
• शाकद्वीपप्रमाणेन: Karana (करण/Measure-Standard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाकद्वीप + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शाकद्वीपस्य प्रमाणम्)

• वलयेन: by/like a ring
• वलयेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक निपात (particle of comparison: ‘as/like’)

• वेष्टितः: surrounded/encircled
• वेष्टितः: Karma (कर्म/Patient—‘is surrounded’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of Jambūdvīpa-adjacent dvīpas and the encircling oceans (dvīpa-samudra ring structure)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world-system is structured in concentric measures, indicating an intelligible, law-governed cosmic order rather than randomness.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate the ordered vastness of creation to cultivate humility and steadiness (śānti) in one’s daily duties.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order can be read as the body (śarīra) of the Lord—an arranged manifestation dependent on Him, though His name is not explicit here.

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Śākadvīpa
• Kṣīroda (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Ocean of Milk (Kṣīroda) around Śākadvīpa in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the ordered structure of the cosmos: each dvīpa is enclosed by a corresponding ocean in equal measure, illustrating a deliberate, ring-like cosmic design.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the arrangement of dvīpas and oceans?

He describes them as concentric regions—continents and surrounding oceans—each encircling the other proportionally, like rings, to convey a systematic cosmic geography.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the ordered cosmos described is understood as upheld by Vishnu’s preserving power, reflecting Vaishnava teaching that universal structure rests on the Supreme Reality.