Shloka 15

Jambūdvīpa Orientation: Meru-Centered Varṣas, Dvīpas, Kulaparvatas, Rivers, and Janapadas

Devanagari script

पुलन्दाश्मकजीमूतनयराष्ट्रनिवासिनः / कर्णार्(ना)टकम्बोजघणा दक्षिणापथवासिनः

Transliteration

pulandāśmakajīmūtanayarāṣṭranivāsinaḥ / karṇār(nā)ṭakambojaghaṇā dakṣiṇāpathavāsinaḥ

Translation

പുലന്ദ, അശ്മക, ജീമൂത, നയ, രാഷ്ട്ര ദേശങ്ങളിൽ പാർക്കുന്നവർ; കൂടാതെ കർണാടക, കാംബോജ, ഘണ ജനങ്ങൾ—ഇവർ എല്ലാവരും ദക്ഷിണാപഥവാസികളാണ്।

Word by Word

• पुलन्दाश्मकजीमूतनयराष्ट्रनिवासिनः: inhabitants of the Pulanda, Ashmaka, Jīmūtanaya, and Rāṣṭra (countries)
• पुलन्दाश्मकजीमूतनयराष्ट्रनिवासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलन्द + अश्मक + जीमूतनय + राष्ट्र + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (पुलन्द-अश्मक-जीमूतनय-राष्ट्रेषु निवासिनः)

• कर्णाटकम्बोजघणाः: the Karnatakas, Kambojas, and Ghaṇas
• कर्णाटकम्बोजघणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णाटक + अम्बोज + घण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कर्णाटकाः च अम्बोजाः च घणाः च); पाठभेद-सूचना (कर्णार्/कर्णा- इत्यादि)

• दक्षिणापथवासिनः: dwellers of the Dakṣiṇāpatha (southern route/Deccan)
• दक्षिणापथवासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणापथ + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणापथस्य वासिनः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world of human communities is organized into large cultural corridors (patha) that structure travel, exchange, and dharma practice.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-bheda (pragmatic differentiation) within one earth: many communities, one shared field of action (karma-bhūmi).

Application: For textual interpretation and historical geography, treat ‘Dakṣiṇāpatha’ as a corridor concept, not merely a compass direction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: macro-region/travel corridor (dakṣiṇāpatha) with janapadas

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55.14; Garuda Purana 1.55.16

Characters & Entities

• Pulinda
• Aśmaka
• Karṇāṭa
• Kamboja
• Dakṣiṇāpatha

FAQs

What is the importance of Dakṣiṇāpatha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses Dakṣiṇāpatha as a traditional geographic-civilizational category, grouping multiple peoples/regions under the ‘southern route/Deccan’ framework used in Purāṇic descriptions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it provides geographic classification that supports the Purāṇa’s broader cosmological and cultural mapping used alongside its afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a reminder that Garuda Purana teachings are framed within a wide sacred geography—encouraging respect for diverse regions and traditions while focusing on the text’s ethical and ritual guidance elsewhere.