Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 56, Shloka 12

Adhyaya 56 — The Descent and Fourfold Course of the Ganga; Jambudvipa’s Varshas and Their Conditions

Sanskrit

प्रविवेश त्रिधा प्राच्यां प्लावयन्ती महानदी ।

भगिरथरथस्यानु स्रोतसैकेन दक्षिणाम् ॥

Transliteration

praviveśa tridhā prācyāṃ plāvayantī mahānadī | bhagīratharathasyānu strotasaikena dakṣiṇām ||

Translation

Con sông vĩ đại ấy đi vào phương Đông thành ba nhánh, làm ngập và tưới nhuần đất đai; và bằng một dòng, nàng chảy về phương Nam, theo đúng lộ trình chiến xa của Bhagīratha.

Word by Word

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tridhā: in three ways
• tridhā: Prakaraṇa (प्रकार/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• prācyām: in the eastern (region)
• prācyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• plāvayantī: flooding
• plāvayantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √plu (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahā-nadī: the great river
• mahā-nadī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhagīratha-rathasya: of Bhagiratha’s chariot
• bhagīratha-rathasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagīratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• anu: along/after
• anu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preverb/adverb) अर्थ: ‘along, following’

• srotasā: by a stream/channel
• srotasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: srotas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• ekena: by one (single)
• ekena: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-रूप, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; विशेषण

• dakṣiṇām: the southern (region)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; (दिशा/region)

Speakers

• Purāṇic narrator in the Jambudvīpa geographical account

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Gaṅgā (as sacred river)

Key Themes

• Sacred Geography
• River mythology
• Directional cosmography

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The river’s orderly distribution into branches suggests a Purāṇic vision of providence: sacred power does not remain concentrated but is apportioned for the welfare of many lands.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

It belongs to the descriptive cosmography (bhū-varṇana) commonly embedded in Purāṇas alongside genealogies and manvantaras.

What is the esoteric significance?

“Following Bhagīratha’s chariot” can symbolize dharma guiding natural force: when righteous intent leads, even overwhelming power becomes a beneficent, directed flow.