Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 45, Shloka 13

Adhyaya 45 — Jaimini’s Cosmological Questions and the Opening of Markandeya’s Account of Primary Creation

Sanskrit

भूर्लोकादिस्वर्लोकानां गणः पातालसंश्रयः ।

गतिस्तथार्कसोमादि-ग्रहर्क्षज्योतिषामपि ॥

Transliteration

bhūrlokādisvarlokānāṃ gaṇaḥ pātālasaṃśrayaḥ | gatis tathārkasomādi-graharkṣajyotiṣām api ||

Translation

भूर्लोक से लेकर स्वर्गलोक तक लोक-व्यवस्था, तथा पाताल में स्थित अधोलोक; और सूर्य, चन्द्र, ग्रह, नक्षत्र तथा अन्य तेजस्वी पिण्डों की गतियाँ—इनका वर्णन कीजिए।

Word by Word

• bhūr-loka-ādi-svar-lokānām: of Bhūrloka etc. and Svargaloka
• bhūr-loka-ādi-svar-lokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūr-loka + ādi + svar-loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘भूर्लोकादि-स्वर्लोकानाम्’ = of Bhūrloka etc. and Svargaloka)

• gaṇaḥ: group/collection
• gaṇaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pātāla-saṃśrayaḥ: resting on/connected with Pātāla
• pātāla-saṃśrayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pātāla + saṃśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘पातालं संश्रयः यस्य’ in sense = having Pātāla as support/abode)

• gatiḥ: course/movement
• gatiḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• arka-soma-ādi-graha-r̥kṣa-jyotiṣām: of the luminaries—sun, moon, etc., planets and constellations
• arka-soma-ādi-graha-r̥kṣa-jyotiṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka + soma + ādi + graha + r̥kṣa + jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (jyotis), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (enumerative determinative: ‘of the luminaries—sun, moon, etc., planets and constellations’)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

Speakers

• Inquirer (Jaimini in the common frame) questioning revered sages

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Surya
• Chandra

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Lokas
• Astronomy/Astrology (Jyotiṣa)
• Purāṇic universe

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The cosmos is portrayed as layered and law-governed; this supports the dharmic idea that actions have ordered consequences across realms and times.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily cosmological elaboration under sarga/pratisarga; it provides the ‘world-structure’ within which manvantara and dynastic histories unfold.

What is the esoteric significance?

Lokas can map to states of consciousness; the ‘courses’ of luminaries point to cyclic rhythms of mind and prāṇa, useful for timing rites and inner practice.