Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

नाम पञ्चपञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / सप्त मेधातिथेः पुत्राः प्लक्षद्वीपेश्वरस्य च / ज्येष्ठः शान्तभवो नाम शिशिरस्तदन्तरः

Transliteration

nāma pañcapañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / sapta medhātitheḥ putrāḥ plakṣadvīpeśvarasya ca / jyeṣṭhaḥ śāntabhavo nāma śiśirastadantaraḥ

Translation

ہری (بھگوان وِشنو) نے فرمایا—یہ پچپنواں ادھیائے ہے۔ پلاکش دْویپ کے ایشور میدھاتِتھی کے سات پُتر ہیں؛ سب سے بڑا شانت بھَو نامی ہے، اور اس کے بعد شِشِر ہے۔

Word by Word

• नाम: named/entitled
• नाम: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशार्थ/उद्धरणार्थ (particle: 'called/namely')

• पञ्चपञ्चाशत्तमः: fifty-fifth
• पञ्चपञ्चाशत्तमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चपञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + तम (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (ordinal)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; विशेषणरूपेण (indeclinable numeral)

• मेधातिथेः: of Medhātithi
• मेधातिथेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधातिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्लक्षद्वीपेश्वरस्य: of the lord of Plakṣadvīpa
• प्लक्षद्वीपेश्वरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लक्षद्वीपेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) = प्लक्षद्वीप + ईश्वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्लक्षद्वीपस्य ईश्वरः)

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

• ज्येष्ठः: the eldest
• ज्येष्ठः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative sense: eldest)

• शान्तभवः: Śāntabhava (proper name)
• शान्तभवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तभव (प्रातिपदिक) = शान्त + भव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शान्तः भवः)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशार्थ (particle: 'by name')

• शिशिरः: Śiśira (proper name)
• शिशिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तदन्तरः: next after him/thereafter
• तदन्तरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तदन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) = तद् + अन्तर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य अन्तरः = next after that)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order through lineage: dvīpa governance and progeny as a template of structured creation (sṛṣṭi-krama).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s orderly manifestation—creation presented as intelligible hierarchy; names indicate functions/qualities (e.g., Śāntabhava).

Application: Approach Purāṇic cosmography as symbolic pedagogy: cultivate ‘śānta’ disposition (śāntabhava) and seasonal cyclic awareness (śiśira) as reminders of cosmic rhythm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dvīpa (cosmic continent/island)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.56 (dvīpa descriptions and genealogies continuing beyond this verse); Garuda Purana 1.55 (preceding geographic catalogues leading into dvīpa cosmography)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Medhātithi
• Plakṣa-dvīpa
• Śāntabhava
• Śiśira

FAQs

What is the importance of Plakṣa-dvīpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse situates Plakṣa-dvīpa within Purāṇic cosmology by naming its ruler (Medhātithi) and introducing his lineage, a typical method for mapping sacred geography through dynastic lists.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it begins a cosmological-genealogical section, shifting focus from ethical/ritual themes to the structure and rulers of the world-islands (dvīpas).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a study anchor: when reading the Garuda Purana, note whether a passage is teaching ritual/ethics or outlining cosmology—this helps interpret verses in their correct context.