Shloka 5

Jambūdvīpa Orientation: Meru-Centered Varṣas, Dvīpas, Kulaparvatas, Rivers, and Janapadas

Devanagari script

नागद्वीपः कटाहश्च सिंहलो वारुणस्तथा / अयं तुनवमस्तेषां द्वीपः सागरसंवृतः

Transliteration

nāgadvīpaḥ kaṭāhaśca siṃhalo vāruṇastathā / ayaṃ tunavamasteṣāṃ dvīpaḥ sāgarasaṃvṛtaḥ

Translation

Nāgadvīpa, Kaṭāha, Siṃhala, và cả Vāruṇa nữa—đó là hòn đảo thứ chín trong số ấy, một đảo được đại dương bao bọc bốn bề.

Word by Word

• नागद्वीपः: Nāgadvīpa
• नागद्वीपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नागानां द्वीपः / नाग-नामकः द्वीपः)

• कटाहः: Kaṭāha (name of island/region)
• कटाहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: None (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक)

• सिंहलः: Siṃhala (Sri Lanka)
• सिंहलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वारुणः: Vāruṇa (name of island/region)
• वारुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: None (Adverb/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (रीतिवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: None (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• नवमः: ninth
• नवमः: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषणम् (अयम्/द्वीपः)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्वीपः: island
• द्वीपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सागरसंवृतः: surrounded by the ocean
• सागरसंवृतः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर + संवृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) from सम्+वृ (धातु) + क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सागरेण संवृतः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world is structured as nested domains bounded by oceans—knowledge of cosmos as a support for humility and right orientation.

Vedantic Theme: viśvarūpa-buddhi (seeing the cosmos as ordered manifestation) as preparatory contemplation.

Application: Use cosmographic contemplation to reduce ego-centricity; reflect on limits/boundaries in life and practice self-restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dvīpa/island chain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.55 (dvīpa list continues)

Characters & Entities

• Nāgadvīpa
• Kaṭāha
• Siṃhala
• Vāruṇa
• Sāgara (ocean)

FAQs

What is the importance of dvīpas (island-worlds) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific dvīpas and situates them within an ocean-bounded cosmic geography, showing how the Purana maps the world into named regions for cosmological understanding.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it contributes to the broader Purāṇic framework of the universe in which other sections locate realms, routes, and sacred spaces.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study scripture with context: some verses teach cosmology and sacred geography, supporting a holistic understanding alongside teachings on dharma, karma, and rites.