Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 54, Shloka 19

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

Sanskrit

अयुतोच्छ्रायास्तस्याधस्तथा विष्कम्भवर्वताः ।

प्राच्यादिषु क्रमेणैव मन्दरो गन्धमादनः ॥

Transliteration

ayutocchrāyāstasyādhastathā viṣakambhavarvatāḥ / prācyādiṣu krameṇaiva mandaro gandhamādanaḥ

Translation

Beneath it are mountains serving as supports, with a height of ten thousand (yojanas). In the eastern and the other directions respectively are Mandara and Gandhamādana (and the others in order).

Speakers

• Not identifiable from the supplied excerpt (cosmography narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Sacred Geography
• World-mountain supports

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Stability is a recurring cosmic motif: great structures are said to rest on supports. The imagery reinforces the idea that order depends on underlying foundations—seen analogically in dharma supporting society.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Cosmographic Sarga/Sthāna material: detailing the physical supports and arrangement of the world’s central axis.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Supports’ can be read inwardly as the stabilizing principles (disciplines, virtues) that uphold the aspirant’s inner ‘Meru’ (axis of awareness).