Shloka 9

Adhyaya 55 — Description of Jambudvipa: The Four Forests, Lakes, and Mountain Ranges Around Mount Meru; Bharata as the Karma-Bhumi

Sanskrit

सुरक्षः शिशिराक्षश्च वैदूर्यः कपिलस्तथा । पिञ्जरोऽथ महाभद्रः सुरसः पिङ्गलो मधुः ॥

Transliteration

surakṣaḥ śiśirākṣaś ca vaidūryaḥ kapilas tathā | piñjaro ’tha mahābhadraḥ surasaḥ piṅgalo madhuḥ ||

Translation

సురక్ష, శిశిరాక్ష, వైదూర్య, కపిల; అలాగే పింజర, మహాభద్ర, సురస, పింగల, మధు—ఇవి పర్వతాలలో పేర్కొనబడినవి.

Word by Word

सुरक्षःSurakṣa (name)

शिशिराक्षःŚiśirākṣa (cool-eyed; name)

चand

वैदूर्यःVaidūrya (cat’s-eye gem; name)

कपिलःKapila (tawny; name)

तथाalso/likewise

पिञ्जरःPiñjara (reddish-brown; name)

अथthen/next

महाभद्रःMahābhadra (very auspicious; name)

सुरसःSurasa (fragrant/pleasant; name)

पिङ्गलःPiṅgala (tawny; name)

मधुःMadhu (honey/sweet; name)

Speakers

Not within Devi Mahatmyam; cosmographic narration (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

CosmologySacred Geography

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Auspicious naming (Mahābhadra, Madhu) frames the natural world as value-laden; the cosmos is perceived through dharmic aesthetics (śubha/maṅgala).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Cosmographic catalogue supporting the Purana’s account of the world’s form (sarga/pratisarga-related).

What is the esoteric significance?

Gem and color terms (Vaidūrya, Kapila, Piñjara) hint at elemental and subtle correspondences—mountains as crystallizations of tejas and pṛthvī principles.