Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 58, Shloka 38

Adhyaya 58 — The Kurma-Form of Narayana: Mapping Bharata through Nakshatras, Regions, and Planetary Afflictions

Sanskrit

ऐन्द्रं मूलं तथाषाढा नक्षत्रत्रयमेव च ।

माण्डव्याश्चण्डखाराश्च अश्वकालानतास्तथा ॥

Transliteration

aindraṃ mūlaṃ tathāṣāḍhā nakṣatratrayam eva ca / māṇḍavyāś caṇḍakhārāś ca aśvakālanatās tathā

Translation

并有月宿三组：因陀罗宿（Aindra）、牟罗宿（Mūla）与阿沙陀宿（Āṣāḍhā）。又有曼陀毗耶族（Māṇḍavya）、旃陀迦罗族（Caṇḍakhāra），以及阿湿婆迦罗那多族（Aśvakālanata，诸民/诸域）。

Word by Word

• ऐन्द्रम्: Indra-related
• ऐन्द्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (adj.)

• मूलम्: Mūla (a lunar mansion)
• मूलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चयार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आषाढा: Āṣāḍhā (a lunar mansion)
• आषाढा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• नक्षत्रत्रयम्: the triad of nakṣatras
• नक्षत्रत्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (three nakṣatras)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारण (emphatic particle)

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

• माण्डव्याः: Māṇḍavyās (a group/people)
• माण्डव्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माण्डव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• चण्डखाराः: Caṇḍakhāras (a group/people)
• चण्डखाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डखार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

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

• अश्वकालानताः: Aśvakālanatas (a group/people)
• अश्वकालानताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व + काल + अनत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (अश्व-काल-अनत)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चयार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speakers

• Frame not explicit in these verses (catalogue style within the Purāṇic narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Indra (by nakṣatra epithet only)

Key Themes

• Nakṣatra mapping
• Cosmography
• Regional catalogues

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Time (lunar stations) and space (lands/peoples) are paired, implying that human life is best understood through both terrestrial belonging and celestial rhythm.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sthāna, with astral correspondences that support ritual calendrics.

What is the esoteric significance?

Nakṣatra triads can be read as ‘energetic zones’ governing regions—suggesting a sacred geography where rites and destinies differ by place and star-influence.