Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

अधः षोडशसाहस्रः कर्णिकाकारसंस्यितः / हिमवान्हेमकूटश्च निषधश्चास्य दक्षिणे

Transliteration

adhaḥ ṣoḍaśasāhasraḥ karṇikākārasaṃsyitaḥ / himavānhemakūṭaśca niṣadhaścāsya dakṣiṇe

Translation

เบื้องล่างนั้นยาวไปถึงหนึ่งหมื่นหกพันโยชน์ เป็นบริเวณมีรูปดุจเกสรกลางดอกบัว และทางทิศใต้ของเขานั้นมีภูเขาหิมวาน เฮมกูฏ และนิษธะ.

Word by Word

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

• षोडशसाहस्रः: sixteen thousand
• षोडशसाहस्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यासमासः—‘षोडश-साहस्र’ = sixteen thousand

• कर्णिकाकार: of pericarp-like shape
• कर्णिकाकार: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); ‘कर्णिका-आकार’ = having the form of a pericarp/lotus-core

• संस्यितः: formed/placed
• संस्यितः: Karma (Predicate/State of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्थित/संस्थित’ = placed/formed

• हिमवान्: Himavān (Himalaya)
• हिमवान्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हेमकूटः: Hemakūṭa (mountain)
• हेमकूटः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + कूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘हेम-कूट’

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

• निषधः: Niṣadha (mountain)
• निषधः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

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

• दक्षिणे: to the south/on the southern side
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशावाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world is envisioned as a lotus-like sacred form; directional mountain ranges define order and orientation.

Vedantic Theme: Lotus as symbol of purity and unfolding consciousness; the cosmos as a meaningful, not random, manifestation.

Application: Use lotus symbolism for meditation: visualize stability (Meru) and purity (lotus) to cultivate mental clarity and steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmographic substructure and mountain ranges

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.7-8 (Meru dimensions)

Characters & Entities

• Himavān (Himalaya)
• Hemakūṭa
• Niṣadha

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred geography in the Garuda Purana?

This verse situates major mountain ranges in relation to a lotus-like central region, showing how the Purana maps the world symbolically and ritually, linking cosmology with sacred space.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey directly; instead, it provides cosmological geography that forms the broader worldview in which later teachings on afterlife realms and karmic destinations are framed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative reminder that Hindu tradition connects outer geography with inner meaning—encouraging reverence for sacred landscapes and a disciplined, dharmic life within a larger cosmic order.