Shloka 6

Names of Priyavrata’s Sons; Division of the Seven Continents; Sapta-dvīpa and Meru Description; Nābhi–Ṛṣabha–Bharata Lineage

Devanagari script

एते द्वीपाः समुद्रैस्तु सप्त सप्तभिरावृताः / लवणेक्षुसुरासर्पिर्दाधिदुग्धजलैः समम्

Transliteration

ete dvīpāḥ samudraistu sapta saptabhirāvṛtāḥ / lavaṇekṣusurāsarpirdādhidugdhajalaiḥ samam

Translation

एते द्वीपाः सप्तभिः सप्तसमुद्रैः परितोऽवृताः। लवण-इक्षु- सुरा- सर्पिर्दधि-दुग्ध-जलैः क्रमात्॥

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम—विशेषणरूपेण

• द्वीपाः: islands
• द्वीपाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• समुद्रैः: by oceans
• समुद्रैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; विशेषण—‘सप्त’ (seven)

• सप्तभिः: by seven (in number)
• सप्तभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण—समुद्रैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आवृताः: surrounded
• आवृताः: Karma (Predicate/State of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘आवृत’ = surrounded

• लवण: salt
• लवण: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• इक्षु: sugarcane
• इक्षु: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• सुरा: liquor
• सुरा: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (घृतम्)

• दधि: curd
• दधि: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• दुग्ध: milk
• दुग्ध: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• जलैः: with waters
• जलैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• समम्: equally
• समम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्य/समत्वार्थे (adverb: ‘equally/in the same manner’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The universe is structured in concentric coverings; multiplicity and gradation are part of cosmic design.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s manifold expressions as upādhi around the central axis; contemplation of vastness supports vairāgya.

Application: Reflect on ‘encirclements’ in life (habits, desires) as layers to be understood and transcended through discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmographic oceans

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.5 (dvīpa names); Garuda Purana 1.54.7 (dvīpa and ocean doubling)

Characters & Entities

• Dvīpas
• Samudras

FAQs

What is the importance of the seven oceans (sapta-samudra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse summarizes the Purāṇic map of the world: the dvīpas are arranged with seven concentric oceans of distinct substances, expressing an ordered cosmic design rather than ordinary physical geography.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey directly; instead, it sets a cosmological framework (dvīpas and oceans) that many Purāṇic teachings use as the backdrop for pilgrimage, merit, and cosmic order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of ṛta (cosmic order): live with discipline and reverence for sacred tradition, and study Purāṇic cosmology as a symbolic map that supports dharma-oriented living.