Shloka 60

Adhyaya 3 — Birth of the Birds

Sanskrit

नवद्वारं महायामं सर्वतः स्नायु वेष्टितम् ।

नृपश्च पुरुषस्तत्र चेतनावानवस्थितः ॥

Transliteration

navadvāraṃ mahāyāmaṃ sarvataḥ snāyuveṣṭitam |

nṛpaś ca puruṣas tatra cetanāvān avasthitaḥ ||

Translation

یہ جسم نو دروازوں والی ایک عظیم و طویل ‘شہر’ ہے، جو ہر طرف عصبوں کے بندھن سے بندھا ہے؛ اور اس کے اندر شعور سے آراستہ شاہانہ شخص (پُرُش) مقیم ہے۔

Word by Word

• नव-द्वारम्: (having) nine gates
• नव-द्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (नव द्वाराणि यस्य तत्)

• महा-यामम्: of great extent/dimension
• महा-यामम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषण

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• स्नायु-वेष्टितम्: wrapped with sinews
• स्नायु-वेष्टितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष्टित (कृदन्त; वेष्ट् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (स्नायुभिः वेष्टितम्)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पुरुषः: the person (soul/agent)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नृपस्य विशेषणभावेन अपि

• तत्र: therein
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• चेतनावान्: conscious
• चेतनावान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चेतना (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुपर्थक ‘वत्’ प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण

• अवस्थितः: is situated/abides
• अवस्थितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवस्थित (कृदन्त; अव+स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-क्त (past participle) प्रयुक्तः विधेयवत् (as predicate): ‘स्थितः/स्थितवान्’

Speakers

• Frame narration within Markandeya Purana’s early dialogue context (exact speaker attribution varies by recension; not Devi Māhātmya)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Philosophy
• Atman/Purusha
• Body as city (navadvāra-purī imagery)
• Ethics (self-governance)
• Yoga/Viveka (discrimination of self and body)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse teaches discernment: the body is a constructed ‘city’ with openings and bindings, while the conscious puruṣa is the inner ruler. Ethically, one should live as a responsible ‘king’—governing senses and actions—rather than identifying with the body’s material enclosure.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse aligns most closely with Dharma/Upadeśa (instruction) and philosophical exposition rather than the strict pancalakṣaṇa categories. If mapped loosely, it supports ‘vaṃśānucarita’/didactic narrative context by embedding metaphysical teaching within the Purāṇic discourse, but it is not itself sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa material.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘nine gates’ symbolize the sensory apertures through which consciousness engages the world; ‘sinews’ indicate the binding, limiting structures of embodiment. The ‘king’ puruṣa hints at the witnessing, directing principle (inner sovereign) that can either be enthralled by the gates (sense-life) or master them through yogic restraint and insight.