Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 6, Shloka 13

Adhyaya 6 — Balarama’s Dilemma, Drunken Wanderings in Revata’s Grove, and the Slaying of the Suta

Sanskrit

पनसाञ् लाकुचान् मोचान् नीपांश्चातिमनोहरान् ।

पारावतांश्च कङ्कोलान् नलिनानाम्लवेतसान् ॥

Transliteration

panasān lakucān mocān nīpāṃś cātimanoharān /

pārāvatāṃś ca kaṅkolān nalinān āmlavetasān //

Translation

“（其中有）菠萝蜜树、拉库迦树、香蕉丛，以及极其妩媚的尼帕（迦檀婆）树；又有帕罗婆多树、甘拘罗（香辛）树、莲花，并有酸味的韦多萨（酸韦多萨之类植物）。”

Word by Word

• पनसान्: jackfruit trees
• पनसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पनस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• लाकुचान्: lakucha trees
• लाकुचान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाकुच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मोचान्: banana trees
• मोचान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• नीपान्: kadamba/nīpa trees
• नीपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• अति-मनोहरान्: very charming
• अति-मनोहरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘अति’ = अत्यर्थे (very); विशेषण—‘नीपान्’

• पारावतान्: pigeon/dove (named) trees (pārāvata)
• पारावतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारावत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• कङ्कोलान्: kankola (spice) trees
• कङ्कोलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कङ्कोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• नलिनान्: nalina (lotus-like) plants/trees
• नलिनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अम्ल-वेतसान्: sour willows/reeds (amla-vetasa)
• अम्ल-वेतसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + वेतस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—‘अम्लाः वेतसाः’

Speakers

• Narrative description (no direct speech indicated in this verse alone; framed within the Purana’s ongoing narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Sacred geography
• Natural abundance
• Flora catalogues in Purāṇic description

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse functions primarily as a descriptive catalogue: it evokes an ordered, life-sustaining world where nature’s diversity supports dharmic life (hospitality, ritual offerings, and livelihood). The ethical undertone is reverence for a well-maintained, fertile landscape as a sign of harmony (ṛta) rather than a direct injunction.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is best grouped under ancillary cosmological/geographical description that supports ‘Manvantara’/‘Vaṃśānucarita’ style narration in Purāṇas, though it is not itself a manvantara account or genealogy. It functions as ‘sthāna/varṇana’ (topographical-natural description) commonly embedded alongside the five-lakṣaṇa materials.

What is the esoteric significance?

As symbolism, the enumerated fruiting trees and lotuses can be read as markers of completeness and auspiciousness: fruit (phala) suggests karmic fruition and prosperity; lotus (nalina) suggests purity and spiritual unfolding amid worldly waters. However, the primary intent remains literal scenic abundance rather than a coded theological message.