Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 57, Shloka 59

Adhyaya 57 — The Ninefold Divisions of Bharata: Mountains, Rivers, and Peoples

Sanskrit

दक्षिणापरतो ह्यस्य पूर्वेण च महोदधिः । हिमवानुत्तरेणास्य कार्मुकस्य यथा गुणः ॥

Transliteration

dakṣiṇāparato hy asya pūrveṇa ca mahodadhiḥ | himavān uttareṇāsya kārmukasya yathā guṇaḥ ||

Translation

其南与西为大洋，其东亦为巨海；其北为喜马梵（Himavān）山，如弓弦之弯曲形态（界定其形）。

Word by Word

• दक्षिणापरतः: on the southern/western side
• दक्षिणापरतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा-अपरत (प्रातिपदिक; दक्षिणा + अपरत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial use: ‘to the south/westward’)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal)

• अस्य: of this (land)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पूर्वेण: on the eastern side / to the east
• पूर्वेण: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दिशावाचक (direction-term)

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

• महोदधिः: the great ocean
• महोदधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-उदधि (प्रातिपदिक; महा + उदधि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हिमवान्: Himavān (the Himalaya)
• हिमवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तरेण: to the north / on the northern side
• उत्तरेण: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दिशावाचक

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कार्मुकस्य: of a bow
• कार्मुकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा/प्रकार-अव्यय (comparative adverb: ‘as/like’)

• गुणः: the bowstring/cord
• गुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Frame dialogue context; speaker not explicit in given excerpt

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Geography
• Sacred boundaries
• Himalaya
• Ocean

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Sacred geography is not merely cartographic: boundaries (ocean and Himavān) frame a distinct karmic arena where dharma can be pursued.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Cosmography (bhūvanakośa) that supports Purāṇic world-description, often accompanying sarga/pratisarga expositions.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘bow’ simile suggests Bhārata as a tensioned field—like a bow held ready—where effort (puruṣakāra) and discipline are demanded for spiritual ‘aim’ and attainment.