Shloka 6

भारतवर्षमहात्म्यम् — कर्मभूमित्वम्, नवभेदाः, कुलपर्वताः-नद्यः-जनपदाः, युगचक्रविशेषः, यज्ञपुरुषविष्णुपूजा

Devanagari script

भारतस्यास्य वर्षस्य नव भेदान् निशामय इन्द्रद्वीपः कसेरुश् च ताम्रपर्णो गभस्तिमान्

Transliteration

bhāratasyāsya varṣasya nava bhedān niśāmaya indradvīpaḥ kaseruś ca tāmraparṇo gabhastimān

Translation

Hãy lắng nghe chín phân khu của xứ mang tên Bhārata này—Indradvīpa, Kasēru, Tāmraparṇa và Gabastimān.

Word by Word

• भारतस्य: of Bhārata
• भारतस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (as varṣa-name; often treated neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वर्षस्य: of the region/continent (varṣa)
• वर्षस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable-like here), 'nine'

• भेदान्: divisions
• भेदान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• निशामय: observe; listen (to)
• निशामय: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√शम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• इन्द्रद्वीपः: Indra-dvīpa (a division)
• इन्द्रद्वीपः: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रस्य द्वीपः)

• कसेरुः: Kaseru
• कसेरुः: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कसेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताम्रपर्णः: Tāmraparṇa
• ताम्रपर्णः: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (ताम्रं पर्णं यस्य/ताम्रपर्णः) नामरूपेण

• गभस्तिमान्: Gabhastimān (radiant; name)
• गभस्तिमान्: Karma (Apposition/list item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गभस्ति + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive: 'having rays')

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Geographical/cosmographical description of Bhārata-varṣa and its divisions.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata-varṣa
• Indradvīpa
• Kaseru
• Tāmraparṇa
• Gabhastimān

FAQs

What is the significance of the nine divisions of Bhārata-varṣa in the Vishnu Purana?

They present a sacred-geographical ordering of the human world, framing Bhārata as a structured realm within cosmic law (dharma) as taught in Purāṇic cosmology.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Bhārata-varṣa’s structure here?

In a teacher–disciple narration to Maitreya, Parāśara begins listing the named divisions of Bhārata-varṣa, using an enumerative style typical of the Bhuvana-kośa sections.

What is Lord Vishnu’s theological importance in this geographical context?

Even when describing places, the Purāṇa implies a cosmos upheld by Vishnu as the supreme regulator—geography becomes a map of order within his sustaining power.