Vamana Purana — Structure of Jambudvipa, Shloka 5

Nine Varshas and Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

पश्चिमे केकुमालश्च रम्यकः पश्चिमोत्तरे उत्तरे च कुरुर्वर्षः कल्पवृक्षसमावृतः

Transliteration

paścime kekumālaśca ramyakaḥ paścimottare uttare ca kururvarṣaḥ kalpavṛkṣasamāvṛtaḥ

Translation

पश्चिमेस केकुमाल नावाचा प्रदेश आहे, आणि वायव्येस रम्यक आहे. उत्तरेस कुरुवर्ष असून ते कल्पवृक्षांनी आच्छादित आहे.

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.