Shloka 21

Description of Uttara-Kuru and the Meru-Flank Regions

Bhadrāśva, Sudarśana Jambū, Solar Attendants

Devanagari script

योजनानां सहस्रं च शतं च द्विजसत्तमाः । तथा माल्यवतः शृंगे पूर्वे पूर्वानुगांतकाः

Transliteration

yojanānāṃ sahasraṃ ca śataṃ ca dvijasattamāḥ | tathā mālyavataḥ śṛṃge pūrve pūrvānugāṃtakāḥ

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജശ്രേഷ്ഠന്മാരേ! (അതിന്റെയളവ്) ആയിരവും നൂറും യോജന. അതുപോലെ മാല്യവത് പർവതത്തിന്റെ കിഴക്കൻ ശിഖരത്തിൽ, കിഴക്കൻ പ്രദേശത്ത്, അവ ക്രമമായി ഒന്നിന് പിന്നാലെ ഒന്നായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു.

Word by Word

• yojanānām: of yojanas
• yojanānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• sahasram: a thousand
• sahasram: Pramāṇa (प्रमाण; measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom./Acc./प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Pramāṇa (प्रमाण; measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom./Acc./प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• dvija-sattamāḥ: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-sattamāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); sambodhana-artha (addressing sense)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā/saṃgraha-avyaya (adverb: likewise/तथा)

• mālyavataḥ: of (Mount) Mālyavat
• mālyavataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālyavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); proper name (Mount Mālyavat)

• śṛṅge: on the peak
• śṛṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• pūrve: in the east
• pūrve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग) or Puṃliṅga depending on implied noun; Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); used directionally (in the east)

• pūrva-anugāṃtakāḥ: following the former/preceding (in order)
• pūrva-anugāṃtakāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + anugāmin/anuga (प्रातिपदिक) + antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); samāsa sense: pūrvam anugacchanti iti (those who follow the former/preceding)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrator addressing 'dvijasattamāḥ')

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvānugāṃtakāḥ = pūrva + anugāṃtakāḥ (vowel coalescence).

Characters & Entities

• Mālyavat

FAQs

What does this verse indicate about distances and measurement in the Padma Purana?

It uses the unit 'yojana' to quantify a span (here, 1,100 yojanas), reflecting the Purana’s cosmographic style of describing regions and landmarks with traditional distance measures.

Who or what is Mālyavat in this verse?

Mālyavat is referenced as a mountain, specifically an eastern peak, used as a geographic marker within the Svarga-khaṇḍa’s regional descriptions.

What is the main theme of this shloka within Svarga-khaṇḍa?

The verse is primarily descriptive—mapping locations and their order—supporting the Svarga-khaṇḍa’s broader interest in sacred/cosmic geography rather than a direct ethical injunction.