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

ಮೇರುವಿನ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಪಾರ್ಶ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಷಧ ಮತ್ತು ಪಾರಿಯಾತ್ರ ಇವೆ. ಪೂರ್ವದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಆ ಎರಡು ಪರ್ವತಗಳಂತೆ, ಇವುಗಳೂ ಆನೀಲ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಷಧಗಳಷ್ಟೇ ಸಮವಿಸ್ತಾರ ಹೊಂದಿವೆ.

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.