Shloka 50

Qualities of the Five Great Elements; Description of Sudarśana-dvīpa and Mount Meru

Devanagari script

आयुर्दशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां तत्र सत्तमाः । सुवर्णवर्णाश्च नरा स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसां समाः

Transliteration

āyurdaśasahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṃ tatra sattamāḥ | suvarṇavarṇāśca narā striyaścāpsarasāṃ samāḥ

Translation

Ô le plus vertueux, là-bas la durée de vie est de dix mille ans ; les hommes y sont d’une teinte d’or, et les femmes sont comparables aux Apsaras.

Word by Word

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative Singular

• दशसहस्राणि: ten-thousands (i.e., ten thousand)
• दशसहस्राणि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• वर्षाणाम्: of years
• वर्षाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive Plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (स्थान/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण/adverb of place

• सत्तमाः: O best ones
• सत्तमाः: सम्बोधन/संबोधनार्थ प्रयोग (Addressing the audience)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्/सत् + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; उत्तम-प्रत्ययान्त (superlative)

• सुवर्णवर्णाः: golden-colored
• सुवर्णवर्णाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; तत्पुरुष: ‘सुवर्णस्य वर्णः’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चय/coordination conjunction

• नराः: men
• नराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative Plural

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative Plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चय/coordination conjunction

• अप्सरसाम्: of apsarases
• अप्सरसाम्: उपमान-सम्बन्ध (Genitive with comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive Plural

• समाः: equal (to)
• समाः: विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative Plural; विशेषण

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial voice within Svargakhaṇḍa; exact dialogue pair not provided in the input)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: आयुर्दशसहस्राणि = आयुः + दशसहस्राणि; सुवर्णवर्णाश्च = सुवर्णवर्णाः + च; स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसां = स्त्रियः + च + अप्सरसाम्.

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras

FAQs

What is being described in this verse of the Svargakhaṇḍa?

It describes the characteristics of a heavenly realm: exceptionally long lifespans (ten thousand years) and extraordinary beauty—men are golden-hued and women resemble Apsarases.

Who are the Apsarases mentioned here?

Apsarases are celestial nymphs in Hindu cosmology, renowned for beauty, grace, and artistry; the verse uses them as the benchmark for feminine beauty in heaven.

What theological idea is implied by longevity and beauty in Svarga descriptions?

Such traits function as markers of heavenly merit and refined enjoyment (bhoga) in higher realms, illustrating the fruits of virtue—while also implying that these rewards remain within the cycle of worldly experience rather than ultimate liberation.