Shloka 21
Description of Uttara-Kuru and the Meru-Flank Regions
Bhadrāśva, Sudarśana Jambū, Solar Attendants
योजनानां सहस्रं च शतं च द्विजसत्तमाः । तथा माल्यवतः शृंगे पूर्वे पूर्वानुगांतकाः
yojanānāṃ sahasraṃ ca śataṃ ca dvijasattamāḥ | tathā mālyavataḥ śṛṃge pūrve pūrvānugāṃtakāḥ
O Bester der Dvijas, (die Ausdehnung beträgt) tausend Yojanas und hundert; ebenso findet man sie auf dem östlichen Gipfel des Mālyavat, im Osten, der Reihe nach, einer nach dem anderen.
Unspecified (narrator addressing 'dvijasattamāḥ')
Concept: The cosmos is structured, directional, and sequential—spiritual realities are not random but arranged by divine order (ṛta/dharma).
Application: Cultivate steadiness: approach sādhanā step-by-step ‘in due order’ rather than seeking instant results; honor sacred directions and routines (sandhyā, pradakṣiṇā).
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast Purāṇic map-scene unfolds: the eastern horizon rises into the Mālyavat peak, with successive ridgelines receding ‘one after another’ like steps of a celestial staircase. Tiny luminous settlements cling to the slopes, suggesting measured distances across an immense, orderly cosmos.","primary_figures":["Purāṇic narrator (invisible/voice)","dvijas (listening sages, as witnesses)"],"setting":"Mythic eastern mountain range of Jambūdvīpa; layered peaks, aerial perspective, faint celestial pathways marking yojana-measures.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","pale saffron","sapphire blue","silver mist","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a grand eastern mountain Mālyavat rendered as tiered, symmetrical peaks; gold leaf highlights tracing the ridgelines and yojana ‘measure-lines’; foreground sages (dvijas) seated with palm-leaf manuscripts; rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate border with lotus medallions.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate layered Himalayan-like peaks suggesting Mālyavat; cool blues and soft greens with misty washes; small sage-figures in the foreground listening; fine linework indicating sequential ridges ‘one after another’, lyrical naturalism and refined faces.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines of a monumental mountain with stylized foliage; warm ochres and greens; sages in traditional attire at the base; directional symbolism (east) shown by a rising sun motif; temple-wall aesthetic with rhythmic patterning.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: an eastern landscape framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; stylized mountain tiers; deep indigo sky transitioning to dawn; decorative yojana bands as patterned stripes; peacocks along the border, gold accents emphasizing sacred order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","distant wind over peaks","conch shell (faint)","silence between measures"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvānugāṃtakāḥ = pūrva + anugāṃtakāḥ (vowel coalescence).
FAQs
It uses the unit 'yojana' to quantify a span (here, 1,100 yojanas), reflecting the Purana’s cosmographic style of describing regions and landmarks with traditional distance measures.
Mālyavat is referenced as a mountain, specifically an eastern peak, used as a geographic marker within the Svarga-khaṇḍa’s regional descriptions.
The verse is primarily descriptive—mapping locations and their order—supporting the Svarga-khaṇḍa’s broader interest in sacred/cosmic geography rather than a direct ethical injunction.