Shloka 18
सप्तद्वीप-समुद्र-प्रमाणम्: प्लक्षादि-द्वीपवर्णनं, लोकालोक-सीमा, चन्द्र-समुद्र-वृद्धिक्षयः
जम्बूवृक्षप्रमाणस् तु तन्मध्ये सुमहांस् तरुः प्लक्षस् तन्नामसंज्ञो ऽयं प्लक्षद्वीपो द्विजोत्तम
jambūvṛkṣapramāṇas tu tanmadhye sumahāṃs taruḥ plakṣas tannāmasaṃjño 'yaṃ plakṣadvīpo dvijottama
Di tengahnya berdiri sebatang pohon agung, luas ukurannya seperti pohon Jambū. Pohon besar itu bernama Plakṣa; dan daripada namanya, wahai dwija utama, wilayah ini dikenali sebagai Plakṣa-dvīpa.
Sage Parāśara
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Cosmography of Plakṣadvīpa—its central tree and naming rationale
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: descriptive
Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas
FAQs
This verse states that Plakṣa-dvīpa is named after the immense central Plakṣa tree, showing how each dvīpa is identified through a defining cosmic landmark.
Parāśara presents a systematic cosmography where a principal feature—here, the central tree—gives the dvīpa its name, indicating an ordered and intelligible universe.
Even when describing geography, the Purana’s intent is to depict a cosmos arranged and sustained by the Supreme Reality, Vishnu—an ordered world that reflects divine governance rather than randomness.