Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 2
Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
तत्रापि प्रियव्रतरथचरणपरिखातै: सप्तभि: सप्त सिन्धव उपक्लृप्ता यत एतस्या: सप्तद्वीपविशेषविकल्पस्त्वया भगवन् खलु सूचित एतदेवाखिलमहं मानतो लक्षणतश्च सर्वं विजिज्ञासामि ॥ २ ॥
tatrāpi priyavrata-ratha-caraṇa-parikhātaiḥ saptabhiḥ sapta sindhava upakḷptā yata etasyāḥ sapta-dvīpa-viśeṣa-vikalpas tvayā bhagavan khalu sūcita etad evākhilam ahaṁ mānato lakṣaṇataś ca sarvaṁ vi-jijñāsāmi.
Wahai Bhagavān, roda kereta Mahārāja Priyavrata menggali tujuh parit, dan di dalamnya terwujud tujuh samudra; karena itu Bhū-maṇḍala terbagi menjadi tujuh pulau. Engkau telah memberi uraian umum tentang ukuran, nama, dan ciri-cirinya; kini aku ingin mengetahuinya secara rinci—mohon penuhi keinginanku.
FAQs
This verse shows Parīkṣit Mahārāja requesting a complete explanation—measurements and defining features—of the earth’s division into seven distinct dvīpas, which Śukadeva has begun to indicate.
Because the narrative links the formation of seven major rivers to Priyavrata’s chariot tracks, Parīkṣit seeks a clearer, systematic understanding of Jambūdvīpa’s geography and the seven-dvīpa arrangement.
It models sincere, structured inquiry: when spiritual teachings are introduced, a devotee should ask to understand them thoroughly—both the “measurements” (facts) and the “characteristics” (meaning and purpose).