Shloka 5

Devanagari script

वपुष्माञ्छाल्मलस्येशस्तत्सुता वर्षनामकाः / श्वेतो ऽथ हरितश्चैव जीमूतो रोहितस्तथा

Transliteration

vapuṣmāñchālmalasyeśastatsutā varṣanāmakāḥ / śveto 'tha haritaścaiva jīmūto rohitastathā

Translation

Vapuṣmān ialah tuan bagi Śālmali; putera-puteranya dikenali sebagai Varṣa—Śveta, Harita, Jīmūta, dan Rohita.

Word by Word

• वपुष्मान्: Vapuṣmān (name)
• वपुष्मान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

• शाल्मलस्य: of Śālmala (Śālmali-dvīpa)
• शाल्मलस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्मलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ईशः: lord
• ईशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; अत्र विशेषण (that)

• सुताः: sons
• सुताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वर्षनामकाः: named as varṣas (region-names)
• वर्षनामकाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्षस्य नामकाः = named after regions/varṣas)

• श्वेतः: Śveta (name)
• श्वेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/next)

• हरितः: Harita (name)
• हरितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed)

• जीमूतः: Jīmūta (name)
• जीमूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीमूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रोहितः: Rohita (name)
• रोहितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (likewise/also)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The cosmos is intelligible through patterned divisions (dvīpa–varṣa) and lineage metaphors.

Vedantic Theme: Multiplicity organized under a unifying principle; names as pointers to guṇa-like qualities (śveta/harita/rohita).

Application: Use structured frameworks to understand complexity; contemplate how qualities (colors) manifest in mind and conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dvīpa and its varṣas (regions)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.56 (dvīpa sequence: Plakṣa then Śālmali, with rulers/varṣas)

Characters & Entities

• Vapuṣmān
• Śālmali
• Śveta
• Harita
• Jīmūta
• Rohita

FAQs

What is the importance of varṣa divisions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse contributes to the Purana’s cosmic mapping by listing a ruler (Vapuṣmān) and the named varṣas/regions associated with his lineage, helping situate beings and realms within the text’s sacred geography.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework by outlining cosmological regions and genealogies that contextualize later teachings on realms, destinations, and moral order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that the Garuda Purana includes not only death-ritual teachings but also cosmology and lineage traditions—encouraging a holistic study of Dharma that connects ethics, worldview, and sacred history.