Shloka 1

मेरु-प्रमाणम्, सप्त-पाताल-वर्णनम्, तथा अनन्त-शेष-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

विस्तार एष कथितः पृथिव्या भवतो मया सप्ततिस् तु सहस्राणि द्विजोच्छ्रायो ऽपि कथ्यते

Transliteration

vistāra eṣa kathitaḥ pṛthivyā bhavato mayā saptatis tu sahasrāṇi dvijocchrāyo 'pi kathyate

Translation

Thus I have explained to you the extent of the earth. Now the height of Mount Meru—the lofty ‘twice-born’ among mountains—is also declared to be seventy thousand (yojanas).

Word by Word

• विस्तारः: extent
• विस्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कथितः: has been described
• कथितः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक-भावः (past passive participle: ‘told’)

• पृथिव्याः: of the earth
• पृथिव्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• भवतः: to you
• भवतः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी, एकवचन; अत्र दत्त-सम्प्रदानार्थे चतुर्थी (to you)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया, एकवचन

• सप्ततिः: seventy
• सप्ततिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तति (प्रातिपदिक; संख्याशब्द)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (seventy)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Apposition/Measure (परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अत्र ‘सप्ततिः सहस्राणि’ इति संख्याविशेष्यभावे (seventy thousands)

• द्विजोच्छ्रायः: the height of a brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विजोच्छ्रायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उच्छ्राय (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘द्विजस्य उच्छ्रायः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक निपात (also/even)

• कथ्यते: is said/described
• कथ्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Transition from earth’s extent to Meru’s height in Purāṇic cosmography

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After defining the earth’s extent, the text establishes Meru’s immense height, reinforcing the ordered, tiered structure of the cosmos.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use the image of Meru as an inner ‘axis’: cultivate steadiness (dhṛti) and orientation toward the divine amid life’s movements.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order is meaningful and intelligible within the Lord’s governance, supporting a devotional worldview where the universe is a real, purposeful body of God.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Pṛthivī)
• Mount Meru (implied by dvijocchrāya)

FAQs

What is the significance of cosmic measurements in the Vishnu Purana?

They present the universe as an ordered, intelligible structure—supporting the Purāṇic vision of dharma and sovereignty operating within a divinely sustained cosmic plan.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the structure of the world here?

He proceeds sequentially: after stating the earth’s extent, he transitions to key cosmic landmarks—beginning with the height of the central mountain (Meru), using precise numerical measures.

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

Even when the verse is descriptive and geographic, the broader Vishnu Purana frames such cosmic order as ultimately upheld by Vishnu—the supreme ground of stability and coherence in creation.