Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 58, Shloka 41

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

Sanskrit

आषाढश्रवणे चैव धनिष्ठा यत्र संस्थिता ।

कैलासो हिमवांश्चैव धनुष्मान् वसुमांस्तथा ॥

Transliteration

āṣāḍhaśravaṇe caiva dhaniṣṭhā yatra saṃsthitā / kailāso himavāṃś caiva dhanuṣmān vasumāṃs tathā

Translation

在阿沙陀（Āṣāḍhā）、室罗伐那（Śravaṇa）与檀尼什吒（Dhaniṣṭhā）诸月宿所在之处——亦有凯拉萨（Kailāsa）、喜马梵（Himavān）、达努什曼（Dhanuṣmān）与瓦苏曼（Vasumān）等山域。

Word by Word

• आषाढश्रवणे: in (the nakṣatras) Āṣāḍhā and Śravaṇa
• आषाढश्रवणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढा + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (Āṣāḍhā and Śravaṇa)

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

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

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

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• संस्थिता: is situated
• संस्थिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्थित (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + √स्था (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• कैलासः: Kailāsa
• कैलासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हिमवान्: Himavān (the Himalaya)
• हिमवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

• एव: also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• धनुष्मान्: Dhanuṣmān
• धनुष्मान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• वसुमान्: Vasumān
• वसुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

Speakers

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

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Nakṣatra mapping
• Sacred mountains
• Cosmography

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Great mountains are not only physical landmarks but sacral anchors; aligning them with nakṣatras integrates pilgrimage space with ritual time.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sthāna (description of terrestrial features) with astral correspondences.

What is the esoteric significance?

Kailāsa and Himavān function as axis-points: mapping them to star-sectors implies a subtle ‘celestial grid’ overlaying sacred topography.