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Shloka 7

Names of Priyavrata’s Sons; Division of the Seven Continents; Sapta-dvīpa and Meru Description; Nābhi–Ṛṣabha–Bharata Lineage

Devanagari script

द्वीपात्तु द्विगुणो द्वीपः समुद्रश्च वृषध्वज / जम्बूद्वीपे स्थितो मेरुर्लक्षयोजनविस्तृतः

Transliteration

dvīpāttu dviguṇo dvīpaḥ samudraśca vṛṣadhvaja / jambūdvīpe sthito merurlakṣayojanavistṛtaḥ

Translation

Ô Vṛṣadhvaja, Porteur de l’étendard du taureau : on dit que chaque dvīpa suivant est deux fois plus vaste que le précédent, et que chaque océan qui l’entoure l’est de même. Dans Jambūdvīpa se dresse le mont Meru, large de cent mille yojanas.

Word by Word
द्वीपात्from the island
द्वीपात्:
Apadana (Source)
TypeNoun
Rootद्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन
तुindeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (particle)
द्विगुणःdouble
द्विगुणः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वि (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘द्वि-गुण’ = twofold
द्वीपःthe island
द्वीपः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootद्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
समुद्रःthe ocean
समुद्रः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसमुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
वृषध्वजO Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
वृषध्वज:
Sambodhana (Address)
TypeNoun
Rootवृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः’ (whose banner is a bull)
जम्बूद्वीपेin Jambūdvīpa
जम्बूद्वीपे:
Adhikarana (Location)
TypeNoun
Rootजम्बू (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘जम्बू-द्वीप’
स्थितःsituated
स्थितः:
Karma (Predicate/State of subject)
TypeVerb
Root√स्था (धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘standing/located’
मेरुःMount Meru
मेरुः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
लक्षयोजनविस्तृतःextending for a hundred-thousand yojanas
लक्षयोजनविस्तृतः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootलक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘लक्ष-योजन-विस्तृत’ = spread over a lakh yojanas
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proportional expansion and centrality: the cosmos follows intelligible measures; Meru symbolizes the stable center amid expanding peripheries.

Vedantic Theme: The ‘center’ as metaphor for the Self (ātman) or Brahman—unchanging amidst changing magnitudes; contemplation supports inner steadiness.

Application: Adopt a ‘Meru principle’: keep a stable daily center (japa, meditation, ethics) while life’s outer circles expand.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain / cosmic axis

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.8-9 (Meru dimensions and surrounding regions)

Characters & Entities
J
Jambūdvīpa
M
Meru
S
Samudra
V
Vṛṣadhvaja

FAQs

This verse places Meru at the center of Jambūdvīpa and presents it as a defining cosmic landmark, used to structure the Purāṇic map of the world.

It states a proportional rule: each successive continent and its encircling ocean are described as double the size of the previous, forming an expanding concentric cosmological model.

It encourages a contemplative view of the cosmos—cultivating humility and a broader perspective beyond personal concerns, which supports dharmic living.

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