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According to Vishnu Purana,

In Jambu-dwípa, Vishnu, consisting of sacrifice, is worshipped, as the male of sacrificial rites, with sacrificial ceremonies: he is adored under other forms elsewhere. Bhárata is therefore the best of the divisions of Jambu-dwípa, because it is the land of works: the others are places of enjoyment alone. It is only after many thousand births, and the aggregation of much merit, that living beings are sometimes born in Bhárata as men. The gods themselves exclaim, "Happy are those who are born, even from the condition of gods, as men in Bhárata-varsha, as that is the way to the pleasures of Paradise, or the greater blessing of final liberation. Happy are they who, consigning all the unheeded rewards of their acts to the supreme and eternal Vishńu, obtain existence in that land of works, as their path to him. We know not, when the acts that have obtained us heaven shall have been fully recompensed, where we shall renew corporeal confinement; but we know that those men are fortunate who are born with perfect faculties in Bhárata-varsha."

It also says

From this region heaven is obtained, or even, in some cases, liberation from existence; or men pass from hence into the condition of brutes, or fall into hell. Heaven, emancipation, a state in mid-air, or in the subterraneous realms, succeeds to existence here, and the world of acts is not the title of any other portion of the universe.

But it doesn't look correct in today's context. There are many people in India who are doing crimes and acquiring bad Karma? Indeed, if we acquire Karma on this land, how can we liberate?

Also, this answer gives info about other islands and all people on this Earth were descendants of Grandsons of Priyavrata.

  • Why only descendants of Bharatha are privileged or Why this Varsha (country) is privileged?
  • In Kaliyuga, Sanatana Dharma or Vedic Religion is limited to Bharatha Varsha alone. What about other Yugas? In other Yugas people were present in other islands and were worshiping Vedic Gods. Was Bharatha Varsha still Karma Bhoomi during those times?
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  • "In other Yugas people were present in other islands and were worshiping OUR GODS",,It should be only Gods or atleast True(or Vedic) Gods,Our Gods does not make any sense just like our Sun does not. :)
    – Rickross
    Mar 11 '16 at 18:39
  • @Rickross I mean Shiva and Vishnu by "Our Gods". See this answer.
    – The Destroyer ♦
    Mar 12 '16 at 1:51
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    Actually, other islands were occupied by Daityas and Danavas. Sage Kashyap(after whom Caspian Sea is called) had several wives, from Aditi came Vivasvan(Surya Deva)-> Vaivasat Manu-> Ishwakus-> inhabitants of Bharat Bhumi. While from Danu-> Danavas(inhabitants of European continent)-> Nords(Aesir). From Diti->Daitya(or Titans)->Persians. Also refer Ahur Mazda. But all are human form is same i.e. Sage Kashyap. Aditi was high in Satva, Danu high in Rajas and Diti high in Tamas, hence the difference
    – user3870
    Mar 17 '16 at 16:46
  • But intermixing was common, like wife of Yayati, Chandravanshi king was Daitya queen Sharmishta.
    – user3870
    Mar 17 '16 at 16:51
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    Yeah, I've always found Hindu scriptures' various statements about India rather strange. There are statements that India is the only place where people incur good and bad karma for their actions, statements that the four Yugas only apply to India, etc. I'm not sure how to interpret that.
    – Keshav Srinivasan ♦
    Apr 5 '16 at 13:40
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The questions are:

  • Why only descendants of Bharatha are privileged or Why this Varsha (country) is privileged?
  • In Kaliyuga, Sanatana Dharma or Vedic Religion is limited to Bharatha Varsha alone. What about other Yugas? In other Yugas people were present in other islands and were worshiping Vedic Gods. Was Bharatha Varsha still Karma Bhoomi during those times?

I am not considering the Yuga concept as correct, and hence my answer does not provide material for 2nd part of the question about nature of people in other Yugas in other regions.

Rig Veda III.30.5 (composed by Sage Viswamitra) says

indra dṛhya yāmakośā abhūvan yajñāya śikṣa ghṛṇate sakhibhyaḥ | durmāyavo durevā martyāso niṣaṅghiṇo ripavo hantvāsaḥ ||

Indra, be firm, for there are obstructors of (thy)path : secure to the worshipper and his friends : the means of completing the sacrifice : mortal enemies bearing bows, armed with mischievous weapons , and coming with evil intent, must be destroyed by thee.

  • So by the time this mantra was composed, we can infer that people with evil intentions did exist and tried to obstruct the spiritual practices of the sages.

  • At another mantra, there was a description of a woman conceives a baby in secret . (Rig Veda II.29.1)

UPHOLDERS of the Law, ye strong Ādityas, remove my sin like her who bears in secret. You, Varuṇa, Mitra and all Gods who listen, I call to help me, I who know your goodness.

So vices that we observe in present generation, must have co-existed, alongwith enlightened people, in that era also, though the degree of their presence cannot be ascertained now.

Did not we see in our generation, Sages like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Ramana Maharshi, etc, in spite of falling values in the society?

Bacteria, which are harmful as well as helpful to human body, will always be present in and around Human bodies.

A human body is considered healthy only if the domination of helpful bacteria is more and ill- healthy, if contrary situation exist.

Coming to the core question - Why only descendants of Bharatha are privileged or Why this Varsha (country) is privileged? -, it is to be understood that it is a misconception.

It is true that in India, the atmosphere is more conducive to SPIRITUAL practices. It does not mean that everyone, who takes birth in India is SPIRITUAL by default.

It also does not mean that people, who takes birth in other countries are, per se, materialistic.

People like Vedacharya David Frawley, Dr. Paul Brunton, etc, are examples of non-Indian, SPIRITUALLY oriented people.

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