Shloka 4

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

Sanskrit

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

शतार्धकोटिविस्तारा पृथिवी कृत्स्रशो द्विज ।

तस्या हि स्थानमखिलं कथयामि शृणुष्व तत् ॥

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca |

śatārdha-koṭi-vistārā pṛthivī kṛtsraśo dvija |

tasyā hi sthānam akhilaṃ kathayāmi śṛṇuṣva tat ||

Translation

మార్కండేయుడు అన్నాడు—హే ద్విజా! భూమి యొక్క సంపూర్ణ విస్తారం వెడల్పులో ‘నూట యాభై కోట్లు’ (యోజన)గా చెప్పబడింది. ఇప్పుడు దాని సమస్త విన్యాసం/రచనను పూర్తిగా వివరిస్తాను—విను.

Word by Word

• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Mārkaṇḍeya
• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• śata-ardha-koṭi-vistārā: having an extent of one-and-a-half hundred crores
• śata-ardha-koṭi-vistārā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + vistāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'शतार्धकोट्या विस्तारा' (having an extent of 150 crores)

• pṛthivī: the earth
• pṛthivī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• kṛtsnaśaḥ: entirely
• kṛtsnaśaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛtsnaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'entirely/wholly'

• dvija: O twice-born
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• tasyāḥ: of it/of her (of the earth)
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: explanatory/emphatic)

• sthānam: place/position
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• akhilam: entire/complete
• akhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); 'स्थानम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• kathayāmi: I explain/tell
• kathayāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (धातु; कथयति-प्रयोगः, √kath (denom.))
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• śṛṇuṣva: listen
• śṛṇuṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• tat: that (account)
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya → Krauṣṭuki

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Cosmography
• Sacred geography
• Purāṇic measurements

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The teacher responds with both magnitude and method (‘I will describe the whole structure’), modeling authoritative instruction: begin with scope, then provide ordered details.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Sarga: measurement and arrangement of the earth belongs to the ‘creation/structure’ description typical of Purāṇic cosmology.

What is the esoteric significance?

Vast numerical measures function as contemplative devices: they stretch the mind beyond parochial scale, preparing it for Purāṇic time-cycles and the insignificance of egoic concerns.