Shloka 9

सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्

Devanagari script

वस्वोकसारा शक्रस्य याम्या संयमनी तथा पुरी सुखा जलेशस्य सोमस्य च विभावरी

Transliteration

vasvokasārā śakrasya yāmyā saṃyamanī tathā purī sukhā jaleśasya somasya ca vibhāvarī

Translation

Śakra (Indra) has the city called Vasvokasārā; Yama’s is Yāmyā, also known as Saṃyamanī; Varuṇa, lord of the waters, has the city named Sukhā; and Soma’s city is called Vibhāvarī.

Word by Word

• vasu-okasārā: Vasvokasārā (city-name)
• vasu-okasārā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक) + okasārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vasūnām okasārā = dwelling/place of the Vasus)

• śakrasya: of Śakra (Indra)
• śakrasya: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• yāmyā: Yāmyā (city-name)
• yāmyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (city-name / southern)

• saṃyamanī: Saṃyamanī (city-name)
• saṃyamanī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyamanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (city-name)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Connector/Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• purī: city
• purī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sukhā: Sukhā (city-name)
• sukhā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (city-name)

• jaleśasya: of Jaleśa (Varuṇa)
• jaleśasya: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaleśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• somasya: of Soma
• somasya: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vibhāvarī: Vibhāvarī (city-name)
• vibhāvarī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhāvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (city-name)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in dialogue, instructing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Cosmography: naming the four lokapāla cities on Mānasottara and their sovereign functions.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The named abodes of Indra, Yama, Varuṇa, and Soma signify a cosmos governed by delegated powers under a supreme ordinance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: See social and personal duties as part of a larger sacred order; perform one’s role without envy, as a delegated trust.

Vishishtadvaita: Many divine rulers operate, yet their authority is derivative—consistent with Viṣṇu as the single ultimate cause and sovereign of the real universe.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Shakra (Indra)
• Yama
• Varuna (Jalesha)
• Soma (Chandra)

FAQs

What is the significance of naming divine cities in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse catalogs the ordered abodes of key deities, emphasizing that the cosmos is structured into jurisdictions with specific seats of power and administration.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic governance in this section?

By listing Lokapālas and their cities, Parāśara presents a mapped hierarchy of realms where each deity performs a defined role within a larger, regulated cosmic system.

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

Even when individual deities and their domains are described, the Purāṇic framework treats their authority as derivative—cosmic order ultimately depends on Viṣṇu as the sustaining Supreme Reality.