Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 33
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
क्षारोदेक्षुरसोदसुरोदघृतोदक्षीरोददधिमण्डोदशुद्धोदा: सप्त जलधय: सप्त द्वीपपरिखा इवाभ्यन्तरद्वीपसमाना एकैकश्येन यथानुपूर्वं सप्तस्वपि बहिर्द्वीपेषु पृथक्परित उपकल्पितास्तेषु जम्ब्वादिषु बर्हिष्मतीपतिरनुव्रतानात्मजानाग्नीध्रेध्मजिह्वयज्ञबाहुहिरण्यरेतोघृतपृष्ठमेधातिथिवीतिहोत्रसंज्ञान् यथा संख्येनैकैकस्मिन्नेकमेवाधिपतिं विदधे ॥ ३३ ॥
kṣārodekṣu-rasoda-suroda-ghṛtoda-kṣīroda-dadhi-maṇḍoda-śuddhodāḥ sapta jaladhayaḥ sapta dvīpa-parikhā ivābhyantara-dvīpa-samānā ekaikaśyena yathānupūrvaṁ saptasv api bahir dvīpeṣu pṛthak parita upakalpitās teṣu jambv-ādiṣu barhiṣmatī-patir anuvratānātmajān āgnīdhredhmajihva-yajñabāhu-hiraṇyareto-ghṛtapṛṣṭha-medhātithi-vītihotra-saṁjñān yathā-saṅkhyenaikaikasminn ekam evādhi-patiṁ vidadhe.
七大海依次盛有：咸水、甘蔗汁、苏罗酒、酥油、乳、乳酪精华（搅拌乳酪之乳浆），以及清净甘甜的饮用水。诸海如护城壕般环绕七大洲岛，每一海的宽度与其所环绕之岛等同。巴尔希什玛蒂王后之夫普利耶弗拉塔王，按次序将阎浮等诸岛的主权分别授予其子：阿格尼陀罗、伊德玛吉赫瓦、耶阇那巴胡、希兰尼亚雷塔、格里塔普里什塔、梅达提提与维提霍特罗，使他们各自成为一岛之王。
It is to be understood that all the dvīpas, or islands, are surrounded by different types of oceans, and it is said herein that the breadth of each ocean is the same as that of the island it surrounds. The length of the oceans, however, cannot equal the length of the islands. According to Vīrarāghava Ācārya, the breadth of the first island is 100,000 yojanas. One yojana equals eight miles, and therefore the breadth of the first island is calculated to be 800,000 miles. The water surrounding it must have the same breadth, but its length must be different.
FAQs
This verse states that seven oceans—salt, sugarcane juice, liquor, ghee, milk, whey, and pure water—surround seven islands like moats, each ocean equal in breadth to the island it encircles, arranged successively outward.
Priyavrata, the lord of Barhiṣmatī, appointed his devoted sons as rulers—Āgnīdhra, Idhmajihva, Yajñabāhu, Hiraṇyaretā, Ghṛtapṛṣṭha, Medhātithi, and Vītihotra—one for each island in order.
The verse highlights orderly responsibility and dharmic leadership—assigning qualified, faithful persons to specific duties and maintaining structure for the welfare of all.