Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 58, Shloka 78

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

Sanskrit

वायव्ये चास्य वै पादे धनुर्ग्राहादिकं त्रयम् ।

कुम्भमीनौ तथैवास्य उत्तरां कुक्षिमाश्रितौ ॥

Transliteration

vāyavye cāsya vai pāde dhanurgrāhādikaṃ trayam / kumbhamīnau tathaivāsya uttarāṃ kukṣimāśritau

Translation

তাঁর (কূর্মের) উত্তর-পশ্চিম পাদে ধনু-আদি ত্রয়—ধনু, মকর ও কুম্ভ—অবস্থিত। তদ্রূপ তাঁর উত্তর উদরে কুম্ভ ও মীন অবস্থান করে।

Word by Word

• vāyavye: in the north-west (quarter)
• vāyavye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• asya: of this/its
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निपात)

• pāde: in the foot/quarter-part
• pāde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dhanurgrāha-ādikam: the set beginning with Dhanus and Grāha etc.
• dhanurgrāha-ādikam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus + grāha + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: dhanurgrāha-ādi = “beginning with Sagittarius and Aquarius(?)” (ādi-samāsa)

• trayam: a triad; three (as a set)
• trayam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/quantified set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; numeral collective

• kumbha-mīnau: Aquarius and Pisces
• kumbha-mīnau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbha + mīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); dvandva of two rāśis

• tathā: thus; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• eva: just; indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निपात)

• asya: of this/its
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• uttarām: the northern (one)
• uttarām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adjectivally

• kukṣim: belly/abdomen
• kukṣim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āśritau: having resorted to; situated in
• āśritau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative, Dual; agrees with kumbha-mīnau

Speakers

• Continuing cosmological exposition

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu (Kūrma, implied)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Jyotiṣa (rāśi)
• Directional mapping

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

By locating rāśis within a sacred body-map, the tradition frames astrology as part of dharmic cosmology—knowledge meant for guidance and remedial action, not mere prediction.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Cosmographic arrangement belongs to Sarga/Pratisarga-type description.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘triads’ suggest patterning (grouping) in cosmic forces; esoterically, it hints that time/karma operates in structured cycles within the divine order.