Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 55, Shloka 12

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

Sanskrit

शङ्खकूटोऽथ वृषभो हंसनाभस्तथाचलः । कपिलेन्द्रस्तथा शैलः सानुमान् नील एव च ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkhakūṭo ’tha vṛṣabho haṃsanābhas tathācalaḥ | kapilendras tathā śailaḥ sānumān nīla eva ca ||

Translation

商佉库塔（Śaṅkhakūṭa）、弗利沙婆（Vṛṣabha）与汉萨那婆（Haṃsanābha）；同样（另有）一山；又有迦毗连陀罗（Kapilendra）；以及室罗（Śaila）；萨努曼（Sānumān）；并且还有尼罗（Nīla）——这些依次为北方诸山。

Word by Word

• शङ्खकूटः: Śaṅkhakūṭa (conch-peak; name)
• शङ्खकूटः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्खकूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः शङ्ख + कूट (तत्पुरुष)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• वृषभः: Vṛṣabha (bull; name)
• वृषभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हंसनाभः: Haṃsanābha (swan-naveled; name)
• हंसनाभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंसनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः हंस + नाभ (तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अचलः: Acala (immovable; mountain name)
• अचलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कपिलेन्द्रः: Kapilendra (lord Kapila; name)
• कपिलेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिलेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कपिल + इन्द्र (तत्पुरुष: 'Kapila-lord')

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शैलः: Śaila (mountain; name)
• शैलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सानुमान्: with ridges/slopes
• सानुमान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अनुमत्/स-अनुमान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः स (युक्त) + अनुमत्/अनुमान् (तत्पुरुष; here in sense 'with slopes/ridges (anu)')

• नीलः: Nīla (blue; name)
• नीलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

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

Speakers

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

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Symbolic names (conch, bull, swan) weave cultural-religious imagery into geography, teaching that the world is read through sacred symbols.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Cosmography supporting the Purana’s universe-description (sarga/pratisarga-related).

What is the esoteric significance?

Conch (śaṅkha) evokes primordial sound/order; swan (haṃsa) evokes discernment—suggesting that cosmic structure parallels inner spiritual faculties.