Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 33
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
क्षारोदेक्षुरसोदसुरोदघृतोदक्षीरोददधिमण्डोदशुद्धोदा: सप्त जलधय: सप्त द्वीपपरिखा इवाभ्यन्तरद्वीपसमाना एकैकश्येन यथानुपूर्वं सप्तस्वपि बहिर्द्वीपेषु पृथक्परित उपकल्पितास्तेषु जम्ब्वादिषु बर्हिष्मतीपतिरनुव्रतानात्मजानाग्नीध्रेध्मजिह्वयज्ञबाहुहिरण्यरेतोघृतपृष्ठमेधातिथिवीतिहोत्रसंज्ञान् यथा संख्येनैकैकस्मिन्नेकमेवाधिपतिं विदधे ॥ ३३ ॥
kṣārodekṣu-rasoda-suroda-ghṛtoda-kṣīroda-dadhi-maṇḍoda-śuddhodāḥ sapta jaladhayaḥ sapta dvīpa-parikhā ivābhyantara-dvīpa-samānā ekaikaśyena yathānupūrvaṁ saptasv api bahir dvīpeṣu pṛthak parita upakalpitās teṣu jambv-ādiṣu barhiṣmatī-patir anuvratānātmajān āgnīdhredhmajihva-yajñabāhu-hiraṇyareto-ghṛtapṛṣṭha-medhātithi-vītihotra-saṁjñān yathā-saṅkhyenaikaikasminn ekam evādhi-patiṁ vidadhe.
七つの大海には順に、塩水、甘蔗汁、スラー（酒）、澄ましバター、乳、ダディ・マンダ（攪拌されたヨーグルトの精）、そして清らかな甘い飲料水が満ちている。これらは七つの島を堀のように完全に取り巻き、各海の幅はそれが囲む島の幅に等しい。バルヒシュマティ王妃の夫であるマハーラージャ・プリヤヴラタは、ジャンブー等の島々の主権を、子ら—アーグニードラ、イドゥマジフヴァ、ヤジュニャバーフ、ヒランニャレター、グリタプṛṣṭha、メーダーティティ、ヴィーティホートラ—に順に授け、それぞれを一島の王として定めた。
It is to be understood that all the dvīpas, or islands, are surrounded by different types of oceans, and it is said herein that the breadth of each ocean is the same as that of the island it surrounds. The length of the oceans, however, cannot equal the length of the islands. According to Vīrarāghava Ācārya, the breadth of the first island is 100,000 yojanas. One yojana equals eight miles, and therefore the breadth of the first island is calculated to be 800,000 miles. The water surrounding it must have the same breadth, but its length must be different.
FAQs
This verse states that seven oceans—salt, sugarcane juice, liquor, ghee, milk, whey, and pure water—surround seven islands like moats, each ocean equal in breadth to the island it encircles, arranged successively outward.
Priyavrata, the lord of Barhiṣmatī, appointed his devoted sons as rulers—Āgnīdhra, Idhmajihva, Yajñabāhu, Hiraṇyaretā, Ghṛtapṛṣṭha, Medhātithi, and Vītihotra—one for each island in order.
The verse highlights orderly responsibility and dharmic leadership—assigning qualified, faithful persons to specific duties and maintaining structure for the welfare of all.