Shloka 4

लोकसंस्थानम्, ग्रहदूरी-प्रमाणम्, ब्रह्माण्डावरणानि, विष्णोः जगत्कारणत्वम्

Devanagari script

यावत्प्रमाणा पृथिवी विस्तारपरिमण्डलात् नभस् तावत्प्रमाणं वै व्यासमण्डलतो द्विज

Transliteration

yāvatpramāṇā pṛthivī vistāraparimaṇḍalāt nabhas tāvatpramāṇaṃ vai vyāsamaṇḍalato dvija

Translation

O twice-born one, the vault of heaven is of the same measure as the Earth—equal in extent by its spread and circumference, and equal also by its diameter and spherical sweep.

Word by Word

• यावत्-प्रमाणा: of as much measure (as)
• यावत्-प्रमाणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (यावत्-प्रमाणः = यावद्-परिमाणः)

• पृथिवी: the earth
• पृथिवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विस्तार-परिमण्डलात्: from the circular extent (of its spread)
• विस्तार-परिमण्डलात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक) + परिमण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विस्तारस्य परिमण्डलम्)

• नभः: the sky/heaven
• नभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तावत्-प्रमाणम्: of that much measure
• तावत्-प्रमाणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तावत्-प्रमाणम् = तावद्-परिमाणम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (emphatic particle)

• व्यास-मण्डलतः: from the circle of diameter/extent
• व्यास-मण्डलतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (व्यासस्य मण्डलम्)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Measurement and arrangement of the celestial vault relative to the earth (pṛthivī-nabhas pramāṇa).

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The cosmos is intelligibly ordered by measure (pramāṇa), indicating purposeful governance rather than randomness.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate cosmic order to cultivate steadiness and reverence, letting the mind rest in a sense of dhārmic structure.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order is a real, structured manifestation sustained by the Supreme, not an illusory appearance.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Pṛthivī)
• Heaven/Sky (Nabhas)
• Dvija (addressed interlocutor—Maitreya)

FAQs

What is the significance of measuring heaven as equal to the Earth in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents the cosmos as a proportioned, law-governed order—earth and the celestial expanse are described with corresponding measures, underscoring a structured universe rather than a random one.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic dimensions to Maitreya here?

Parāśara uses geometric language—extent/circumference and diameter/spherical measure—to convey that heaven mirrors the Earth’s scale, framing cosmology in precise, describable terms.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s cosmography functions as a statement of divine sovereignty: the universe is measurable and ordered because it abides in the supreme governance of Vishnu.