Shloka 44

Adhyaya 49 — Primordial Human Creation, the Rise of Desire, and the Origins of Settlements, Measures, and Agriculture

Sanskrit

योजनार्धार्धविष्कम्भमष्टभागायतं पुरम् ।

प्रागुदकप्रवणं शस्तं शुद्धवंशबहिर्गमम् ॥

Transliteration

yojanārdha-ardha-viṣkambham aṣṭa-bhāga-āyataṃ puram | prāg-udak-pravaṇaṃ śastaṃ śuddha-vaṃśa-bahir-gamam ||

Translation

«ويُقال إن الـpura (المدينة) عرضُها نصفُ نصفِ اليوجَنة، وطولُها يزيد بمقدار الثمن. وتُمدَح إن كانت تميل نحو الشرق ونحو الماء، وإن كان لها مخرج/مدخل خارجيٌّ نظيفٌ ذو انتظامٍ في المحاذاة.»

Word by Word

• योजन-अर्ध-अर्ध-विष्कम्भम्: with diameter of a quarter-yojana
• योजन-अर्ध-अर्ध-विष्कम्भम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योजन + अर्ध + अर्ध + विष्कम्भ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषसदृश: 'योजनस्य अर्धस्य अर्धं विष्कम्भः यस्य' (having diameter = quarter yojana)

• अष्ट-भाग-आयतम्: extended to eight parts (in length)
• अष्ट-भाग-आयतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + भाग + आयत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'अष्टभागेन आयतम्' (length = eight parts)

• पुरम्: a city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राक्-उदक-प्रवणम्: sloping eastward/toward water
• प्राक्-उदक-प्रवणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + उदक + प्रवण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दिक्-तत्पुरुष: 'पूर्वोदकाभिमुखं प्रवणम्' (sloping toward east/water)

• शस्तम्: commended/proper
• शस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त (कृदन्त; √शंस् (शंसँ) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: 'प्रशस्तम्/उचितम्'

• शुद्ध-वंश-बहिर्-गमम्: having a pure lineage extending outward
• शुद्ध-वंश-बहिर्-गमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध + वंश + बहिस् + गम (कृदन्त; √गम् (गमॢँ) क्त; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहिर् (अव्यय) उपपद-समास: 'शुद्धवंशात् बहिर्गतम्' (with pure lineage extending outward / having pure line outside)

Speakers

• Not explicitly indicated in the provided excerpt

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Vāstu/urban planning
• Auspicious geography
• Civic design

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Auspicious orientation (east, water access) and cleanliness reflect a dharmic view that environment shapes wellbeing; civic planning is a moral responsibility.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Sthiti: norms for stable, prosperous habitation; a practical extension of maintaining order in society.

What is the esoteric significance?

Eastward slope suggests turning toward illumination (prāk = dawn), and waterward slope suggests flow/purification—both read as aligning life toward clarity and renewal.