Shloka 27

Adhyaya 54 — Cosmography of Jambudvipa: Continents, Oceans, Varshas, and Mount Meru

Sanskrit

नवयोजनसाहस्रं प्रागुदग्दक्षिणोत्तरम् ।

मेरोरिलावृते तद्वदन्तरे वै चतुर्दिशम् ॥

Transliteration

nava-yojana-sāhasraṁ prāg-udag-dakṣiṇottaram | meror ilāvṛte tadvad antare vai caturdiśam ||

Translation

Neuntausend Yojanas erstrecken sich nach Osten, Norden, Süden und Westen; ebenso innerhalb von Ilāvṛta um Meru, in den Zwischenräumen in allen vier Richtungen.

Word by Word

• नव-योजन-साहस्रम्: a stretch of nine thousand yojanas
• नव-योजन-साहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (नवयोजनानां साहस्रम् = nine-thousand yojanas)

• प्राक्: to the east
• प्राक्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (directional adverb)

• उदक्: to the north
• उदक्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उदक्/उदञ्च् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (directional adverb)

• दक्षिण-उत्तरम्: south and north (in those directions)
• दक्षिण-उत्तरम्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् दिशासमाहारः; द्वन्द्व (दक्षिणश्च उत्तरश्च) — adverbial listing of directions

• मेरोः: of Meru
• मेरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• इलावृते: in Ilāvṛta
• इलावृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इलावृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative adverb) = ‘in the same way/likewise’

• अन्तरे: in the intermediate region
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis

• चतुर्-दिशम्: in all four directions
• चतुर्-दिशम्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दिश्/दिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial), द्विगु-समासः (चतस्रः दिशः) = ‘in four directions/all around’

Speakers

• Cosmography narration within Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa (speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Measurement
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic measures are not mere cartography; they assert proportionality and order. The teaching reinforces that the world is not random but arranged, inviting the listener to align personal conduct with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sthāna: description of spatial arrangement and dimensions of the cosmos.

What is the esoteric significance?

The four directions and ‘intermediate spaces’ can map onto inner orientation: the stable center (Meru) with regulated extensions suggests the yogic ideal of a centered awareness amid directional pulls.