Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

योजनानां सहस्राणि ऊर्ध्वं पञ्चाशद् उच्छ्रितः तावद् एव च विस्तीर्णः सर्वतः परिमण्डलः

Transliteration

yojanānāṃ sahasrāṇi ūrdhvaṃ pañcāśad ucchritaḥ tāvad eva ca vistīrṇaḥ sarvataḥ parimaṇḍalaḥ

Translation

Rising upward to a height of fifty thousand yojanas, it is of the same measure in breadth as well—perfectly circular on every side, encompassed uniformly in all directions.

Word by Word

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Measure-genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Extent—measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-प्रयोग (measure)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards; in height
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Directional adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘upwards/in height’)

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समास/संख्या-शब्दः); विशेषणं (सहस्राणि)

• उच्छ्रितः: raised; high
• उच्छ्रितः: Kriya (क्रिया—state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate: ‘raised’)

• तावत्: as much; the same amount
• तावत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘so much/as much’; विशेषणं (विस्तीर्णः)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: ‘just/indeed’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction: ‘and’)

• विस्तीर्णः: wide; extended
• विस्तीर्णः: Kriya (क्रिया—state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate: ‘expanded’)

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

• परिमण्डलः: circular; forming a circle
• परिमण्डलः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं (पर्वतस्य implied)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Dimensions of Mānasottara—height, breadth, and perfect circularity

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: precise and authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The cosmos is described with exact measures, inviting contemplation of a structured reality upheld by consistent principles.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice ‘measured living’—regularity in sādhana, speech, and conduct—mirroring the text’s emphasis on proportion and steadiness.

Vishishtadvaita: The measurability of the world supports its reality (satya as dependent reality) within Viśiṣṭādvaita, as a real mode (prakāra) of Brahman rather than mere illusion.

FAQs

What is the significance of precise measurements (yojanas) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses yojana-based dimensions to present the cosmos as ordered and proportionate, reinforcing the Purāṇic view that the universe is structured rather than random.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the universe’s form in this context?

Parāśara describes a region as uniformly circular and equal in height and breadth, emphasizing symmetry and completeness as marks of cosmic design.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the cosmography functions as a map of divine sovereignty—cosmic order is ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality that the Vishnu Purana identifies with Vishnu.