Vamana Purana — Structure of Jambudvipa, Shloka 12

The Structure of Jambudvipa: Nine Varshas, Navadvipa Bharata, Mountains, Rivers, and Peoples

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः सूद्राश्चान्तरवासिनः इज्यायुद्धवणिज्याद्यैः कर्मभिः कृतपावनाः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ sūdrāścāntaravāsinaḥ ijyāyuddhavaṇijyādyaiḥ karmabhiḥ kṛtapāvanāḥ

Translation

婆罗门、刹帝利、吠舍与首陀罗——以及居于内地之人——皆因各自之业而得净化，如祭祀/礼拜、征战、贸易等诸行。

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brāhmaṇas
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• kṣatriyāḥ: Kṣatriyas
• kṣatriyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• vaiśyāḥ: Vaiśyas
• vaiśyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• śūdrāḥ: Śūdras
• śūdrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• antaravāsinaḥ: inhabitants of the interior
• antaravāsinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vas/वस् (धातु) णिनि/इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'अन्तरे वासिनः' (dwellers in the interior)

• ijyā-yuddha-vaṇijya-ādyaiḥ: by worship, battle, trade, etc.
• ijyā-yuddha-vaṇijya-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ijyā (प्रातिपदिक) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṇijya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; 'इज्यादिभिः' = by worship, warfare, trade, etc.

• karmabhiḥ: by deeds/acts
• karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• kṛta-pāvanāḥ: purified (made pure)
• kṛta-pāvanāḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ/कृ (धातु) क्त) + pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः: 'कृतं पावनं येषाम्' (made pure / having purification effected)

Speakers

• Not explicit in provided excerpt (often framed as Pulastya instructing Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Varna duties
• Karma and purification
• Social order

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes svadharma: purification and merit arise when each social group performs its appropriate, socially sustaining duties (ritual, protection, commerce, service) in a righteous manner.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily Dharma-śāstra-like instruction rather than the five classic purāṇic marks; it aligns most closely with Ācāra/Dharma material often embedded within Vamśānucarita-era teaching contexts, but it is not itself sarga/pratisarga/vamśa.

What is the symbolic significance?

The triad of ijyā–yuddha–vaṇijyā symbolizes the maintenance of cosmic and social order: sacred rite (ṛta), protection (kṣatra), and prosperity (artha). Purification is presented as functional and ethical, not merely ascetic.