Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 54, Shloka 23

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

Sanskrit

निषधः पारियात्रश्च मेरोः पार्श्वे तु पश्चिमे ।

यथा पूर्वौ तथाचैतावानीलनिषधायतौ ॥

Transliteration

niṣadhaḥ pāriyātraśca meroḥ pārśve tu paścime / yathā pūrvau tathā caitāvānīlaniṣadhāyatau

Translation

Niṣadha and Pāriyātra are on the western flank of Meru. Just like the two in the east, these two also have the same extent as Ānīla and Niṣadha.

Word by Word

• niṣadhaḥ: Niṣadha (mountain)
• niṣadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• pāriyātraḥ: Pāriyātra (mountain)
• pāriyātraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāriyātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

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

• meroḥ: of Meru
• meroḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• pārśve: on the side/flank
• pārśve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• paścime: on the western (side)
• paścime: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; दिक्-विशेषण (qualifying pārśve)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (as/just as)

• pūrvau: the former two
• pūrvau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विशेषण (refers to the former two mountains)

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (so/likewise)

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

• etau: these two
• etau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम विशेषण

• ānīla-niṣadha-āyatau: extended/long as Ānīla and Niṣadha (i.e., of that extent)
• ānīla-niṣadha-āyatau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ānīla (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣadha (प्रातिपदिक) + āyata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; ‘ānīla-niṣadha’ इति द्वन्द्व-समाहारस्य उपरि ‘āyata’ विशेषणेन तत्पुरुष-समासवत् प्रयोगः; विशेषण (qualifying etau)

Speakers

• Not identifiable from the supplied excerpt (cosmography narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Sacred Geography
• Symmetry of quarters

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Cosmic symmetry is emphasized: the quarters balance each other. This mirrors the Purāṇic ideal that order (ṛta/dharma) manifests as proportion and correspondence.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sarga/Sthāna cosmography: specifying the mirrored layout of mountain ranges around Meru.

What is the esoteric significance?

East–west equivalence can be read as a teaching on inner balance—opposites are structured to correspond, suggesting harmony between complementary poles.