Vamana Purana — Structure of Jambudvipa, Shloka 5

The Structure of Jambudvipa: Nine Varshas, Navadvipa Bharata, Mountains, Rivers, and Peoples

Devanagari script

पश्चिमे केकुमालश्च रम्यकः पश्चिमोत्तरे उत्तरे च कुरुर्वर्षः कल्पवृक्षसमावृतः

Transliteration

paścime kekumālaśca ramyakaḥ paścimottare uttare ca kururvarṣaḥ kalpavṛkṣasamāvṛtaḥ

Translation

പടിഞ്ഞാറ് കേക്കുമാല എന്ന വർഷം; വടക്കുപടിഞ്ഞാറ് രമ്യകം. വടക്കോട്ട് കുരുവർഷം, അത് കല്പവൃക്ഷങ്ങളാൽ ആവൃതമാണ്.

Word by Word

• paścime: in the west
• paścime: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (contextual; used adverbially as locative)

• kekumālaḥ: Kekumāla (a region)
• kekumālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kekumāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ramyakaḥ: Ramyaka (a region)
• ramyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• paścima-uttare: in the north-west
• paścima-uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (contextual; locative of direction)

• uttare: in the north
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (contextual; locative of direction)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kururvarṣaḥ: Kuru-varṣa (the Kuru region)
• kururvarṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• kalpavṛkṣa-samāvṛtaḥ: covered with wish-fulfilling trees
• kalpavṛkṣa-samāvṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalpavṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (typical frame; not explicit in this verse excerpt)

Key Themes

• Sacred Geography
• Purāṇic Cosmology
• Mythic Ecology (kalpavṛkṣa)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The depiction of Kuru-varṣa as abundant with kalpa-vṛkṣas suggests that prosperity is a function of cosmic order; it also reminds the listener that different realms embody different karmic conditions.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is Sarga-type material (description of the created world and its divisions), contributing to the Purāṇic ‘map’ that later narratives presuppose.

What is the symbolic significance?

Kalpa-vṛkṣas symbolize effortless fruition (phala) and a realm where desire is immediately met—contrasted implicitly with Bhārata, where disciplined action and dharma are central.