Vamana Purana — Structure of Jambudvipa, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

तथान्ये शतसाहस्रा भूधरा मध्यवासिनाः विस्तारोच्छ्रायिणो रम्या विपुलाः शुभसानवः

Transliteration

tathānye śatasāhasrā bhūdharā madhyavāsināḥ vistārocchrāyiṇo ramyā vipulāḥ śubhasānavaḥ

Translation

摩诃因陀罗（Mahendra）、摩罗耶（Malaya）、萨诃耶（Sahya）、舒克提曼（Śuktimān）、梨叉山（Ṛkṣa）、温陀耶（Vindhya）与波利耶特罗（Pāriyātra）——此七者即为库拉山（Kulaparvata），诸主山也。

Word by Word

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = likewise/thus

• anye: other
• anye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; विशेषण (others)

• śata-sāhasrāḥ: numbering a hundred thousand
• śata-sāhasrāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (numerical compound): 'शतसहस्रसंख्यकाः' (hundred-thousands in number)

• bhūdharāḥ: mountains
• bhūdharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• madhya-vāsināḥ: dwelling in the middle (region)
• madhya-vāsināḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vas/वस् (धातु) इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भावः: 'मध्ये वासिनः' (dwelling in the middle region)

• vistāra-ucchrāyiṇaḥ: wide and lofty
• vistāra-ucchrāyiṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vistāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ucchrāyin (प्रातिपदिक; √śri/श्रि or √śray/श्रय with ut-; adjectival stem)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: 'विस्तारिणश्च उच्छ्रायिणश्च' (broad and lofty)

• ramyāḥ: beautiful
• ramyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• vipulāḥ: vast
• vipulāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• śubha-sānavaḥ: with auspicious slopes/summits
• śubha-sānavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + sānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: 'शुभानि सानूनि येषाम्' (having auspicious slopes/summits)

Speakers

• Not explicit in provided excerpt (likely within Pulastya → Nārada instructional narration)

Key Themes

• Sacred geography
• Bhūgolavidyā (purāṇic geography)
• Catalogues/lists

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Geographic catalogues in Purāṇas sacralize the landscape, encouraging a dharmic imagination where the earth is structured, knowable, and worthy of reverence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This belongs to sarga/pratisarga-adjacent cosmographical description (bhūvanakośa style), a common purāṇic component supporting pilgrimage and world-order narratives.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘seven’ principal ranges function as stabilizing pillars of Bhārata-varṣa in purāṇic thought, mirroring the idea of cosmic order upheld by foundational supports.