Shloka 42

भू-मण्डलसंक्षेपवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्राः, मेरु-मानम्, गङ्गावतरणम्, देववन-सरोवर-लोकपालपुर्यः

Devanagari script

निषधः पारियात्रश् च मर्यादापर्वताव् उभौ मेरोः पश्चिमदिग्भागे यथापूर्वौ तथा स्थितौ

Transliteration

niṣadhaḥ pāriyātraś ca maryādāparvatāv ubhau meroḥ paścimadigbhāge yathāpūrvau tathā sthitau

Translation

Niṣadha and Pāriyātra—these two boundary mountains—stand on the western side of Mount Meru, fixed in their ordained places as previously described.

Word by Word

• निषधः: Niṣadha (mountain)
• निषधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पारियात्रः: Pāriyātra (mountain)
• पारियात्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारियात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• मर्यादा: boundary
• मर्यादा: Sambandha (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)

• पर्वतौ: two mountains
• पर्वतौ: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम्

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

• पश्चिम: western
• पश्चिम: Sambandha (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचनार्थे समासपूर्वपद (as prior member)

• दिक्: direction
• दिक्: Sambandha (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपदत्वेन)

• भागे: in the part/region
• भागे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पश्चिमायां दिशि भागः)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative: 'as/according to')

• पूर्वौ: former/previous (two)
• पूर्वौ: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम्

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/so')

• स्थितौ: situated/standing
• स्थितौ: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Location of boundary mountains relative to Mount Meru and the quarters

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The cosmos is centered (Meru) and quartered (dik), with stable landmarks fixed ‘as previously described,’ emphasizing continuity of divine ordinance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate inner ‘Meru’: a stable spiritual center around which life’s directions and duties are organized.

Vishishtadvaita: Stability and continuity of cosmic law reflect the Lord’s sustaining presence as the ground of order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Niṣadha
• Pāriyātra

FAQs

What is the significance of boundary mountains (maryādā-parvatas) in the Vishnu Purana?

They mark divinely ordained limits within the cosmic geography, indicating a stable, law-governed universe arranged around Meru.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic orientation around Mount Meru?

He describes specific mountain ranges positioned in the cardinal directions of Meru, presenting the world as structured and fixed according to an established order.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this cosmological context?

Even when not named in the verse, the ordered placement of realms and boundaries reflects Vishnu’s sustaining power (sthiti) as the Supreme regulator of cosmic harmony.