Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 58, Shloka 20

Adhyaya 58 — The Kurma-Form of Narayana: Mapping Bharata through Nakshatras, Regions, and Planetary Afflictions

Sanskrit

नक्षत्रत्रितयं पादमाश्रितं पूर्वदक्षिणम् ।

लङ्का कालाजिनाश्चैव शैलिका निकटास्तथा ॥

Transliteration

nakṣatratritayaṃ pādam āśritaṃ pūrvadakṣiṇam / laṅkā kālājināś caiva śailikā nikaṭās tathā

Translation

পূৰ্ব-দক্ষিণ পাদৰ বাবে নক্ষত্ৰৰ এক ত্ৰয়ী নিৰ্ধাৰিত বুলি কোৱা হৈছে। তাত লঙ্কা, কালাজিন, শৈলিক আৰু নিকটসকলো (উল্লেখিত)।

Word by Word

• नक्षत्रत्रितयम्: a triad of asterisms
• नक्षत्रत्रितयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra + tritaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'a triad of nakṣatras'

• पादम्: the quarter/section
• पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• आश्रितम्: occupied/inhabited
• आश्रितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-śri (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with पादम्

• पूर्वदक्षिणम्: east-south (southeastern)
• पूर्वदक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva + dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व (directional) qualifying पादम्

• लङ्का: Laṅkā
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• कालाजिनाः: Kālājinās
• कालाजिनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: 'black-skinned/black-hide(-wearing) ones' (gentilic/tribal name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• शैलिकाः: Śailikas (mountain-dwellers)
• शैलिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śailika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• निकटाः: nearby/adjacent
• निकटाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying the peoples listed

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Purāṇic exposition (speaker not specified in provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Cosmography
• Astral-terrestrial correspondence
• Regional catalogues

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Cosmic mapping here is a knowledge-system: it orders space through repeatable categories (direction, limb, nakṣatra), functioning like a sacred taxonomy.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Sthāna.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Śailikā’ (mountain-associated) and similar labels suggest that terrain itself is a spiritual marker—elevation and direction become qualities within the cosmic body.