Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

चतुरशीतिसाहस्रैर्योजनैरस्य चोच्छ्रयः / प्रविष्टः षोडशाधस्ताद्द्वत्रिंशन्मूर्ध्नि विस्तृतः

Transliteration

caturaśītisāhasrairyojanairasya cocchrayaḥ / praviṣṭaḥ ṣoḍaśādhastāddvatriṃśanmūrdhni vistṛtaḥ

Translation

ความสูงของเขานั้นมีแปดหมื่นสี่พันโยชน์ ส่วนฐานหยั่งลึกลงไปเบื้องล่างสิบหกโยชน์ และที่ยอดแผ่กว้างถึงสามสิบสองโยชน์.

Word by Word

• चतुरशीतिसाहस्रैः: by eighty-four thousand
• चतुरशीतिसाहस्रैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुरशीति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यासमासः—‘चतुरशीति-साहस्र’ = 84,000 (by eighty-four thousands)

• योजनैः: yojanas (as a measure)
• योजनैः: Karana (Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अस्य: of it/of this (Meru)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• उच्छ्रयः: height
• उच्छ्रयः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छ्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रविष्टः: extends down/has entered
• प्रविष्टः: Karma (Predicate/State of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘entered/sunk in’

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

• अधस्तात्: below
• अधस्तात्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘below/downwards’)

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

• मूर्ध्नि: at the top/on the summit
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विस्तृतः: expanded
• विस्तृतः: Karma (Predicate/State of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√स्तृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘spread/extended’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The sacred cosmos is described with exactitude; the unseen (below) is integral to the seen (above).

Vedantic Theme: Adhiṣṭhāna (support) beneath appearances; the ‘rooted’ nature of reality beneath phenomenal display.

Application: Remember hidden foundations: cultivate discipline and inner practice that supports outward achievements.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain / cosmic axis

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.7 (Meru introduced); Garuda Purana 1.54.9 (lower region and southern ranges)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing dimensions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses precise yojana-measurements to portray Yama’s realm as an ordered cosmic domain, reinforcing that the afterlife journey is governed by a structured moral-cosmic law (dharma).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By situating the narrative in a specifically measured realm associated with Yama, the text frames the soul’s post-death passage as moving through definite regions where karmic consequences are assessed and experienced.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat actions as consequential within an objective moral order—live by dharma, reduce harm, and perform righteous duties, since the Garuda Purana presents post-death experience as systematic rather than random.