Shloka 19

Sapta-dvīpa Catalog: Plakṣa to Puṣkara, Mānasottara, and the Lokāloka Boundary

Devanagari script

योजनानां सहस्राणि ऊर्ध्वं पञ्चाशदुच्छ्रितः / तावच्चैव च विस्तीर्णः सर्वतः परिमण्डलः

Transliteration

yojanānāṃ sahasrāṇi ūrdhvaṃ pañcāśaducchritaḥ / tāvaccaiva ca vistīrṇaḥ sarvataḥ parimaṇḍalaḥ

Translation

योजनानां सहस्राणि ऊर्ध्वं पञ्चाशदुच्छ्रितः । तावच्चैव च विस्तीर्णः सर्वतः परिमण्डलः ॥

Word by Word

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards; in height
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'upwards/above')

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); परिमाणवाचक (numeral)

• उच्छ्रितः: raised; lofty
• उच्छ्रितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + श्रि (धातु) → उच्छ्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तावत्: so much; of that extent
• तावत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (agreeing with विस्तीर्णः)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

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

• विस्तीर्णः: spread out; wide
• विस्तीर्णः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + स्तॄ (धातु) → विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: सर्वदिक्-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'on all sides')

• परिमण्डलः: circular; round
• परिमण्डलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Magnitude and symmetry of creation point to an underlying cosmic order beyond ordinary perception.

Vedantic Theme: Virāṭ as a support for meditation; the mind moves from gross measure to subtle wonder, preparing for śānta.

Application: Practice 'scale contemplation': visualize vast measures to loosen attachment; use symmetry as a cue for mental steadiness (samādhāna).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain (cosmic ring/boundary)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.56.18 (Mānasottara introduced); Garuda Purana 1.56.21 (Lokāloka and darkness boundary)

FAQs

What is the importance of measuring realms (yojana descriptions) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses yojana-based dimensions to make the otherworldly realm concrete and imaginable, reinforcing that the after-death journey is described as an ordered, structured domain rather than a vague abstraction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing the realm as vast, elevated, and circular, the text situates the soul’s post-death movement within a defined cosmic geography—supporting the broader narrative where the departed traverses specific regions governed by moral law.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ethical conduct and prescribed rites as impactful realities: the Purana frames the afterlife as a regulated order, encouraging disciplined living (dharma) and mindful performance of śrāddha/ancestral duties.