Vamana Purana — Structure of Jambudvipa, Shloka 3
The Structure of Jambudvipa: Nine Varshas, Navadvipa Bharata, Mountains, Rivers, and Peoples
मध्ये त्विलावृतो वर्षो भद्रश्वः पूर्वतो ऽद्भुतः पूर्व उत्तरतश्चापि हिरण्यो राक्षसेश्वर
madhye tvilāvṛto varṣo bhadraśvaḥ pūrvato 'dbhutaḥ pūrva uttarataścāpi hiraṇyo rākṣaseśvara
Di bagian tengah terdapat wilayah Ilāvṛta. Di sebelah timur ada Bhadrāśva yang menakjubkan. Di arah timur-laut terdapat Hiraṇya, wilayah sang penguasa Rākṣasa.
{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
The passage situates human and non-human realms within an ordered cosmos, emphasizing that creation is structured (niyati) and intelligible, inviting reverence rather than mere curiosity.
This is primarily within Sarga (cosmic structure/creation description) and supports the Purāṇic cosmographical mapping of continents and regions.
Ilāvṛta as the ‘middle’ functions as a symbolic axis of the world; the directional varṣas indicate a mandala-like ordering of space, where geography mirrors cosmic hierarchy.