Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 6, Shloka 16

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

Sanskrit

चम्पकान् सप्तपर्णांश्च कर्णिकारान् समालतिन् । पारिजातान् कोविदारान् मन्दारान् बदरांस्तथा ॥

Transliteration

campakān saptaparṇāṁś ca karṇikārān samālatīn | pārijātān kovidārān mandārān badarāṁs tathā ||

Translation

有瞻波迦（champaka）之树、七叶（saptaparṇa）之树、羯尼迦罗（karṇikāra）之树、末罗底（mālatī）之藤蔓；亦有波利阇多（pārijāta）、拘毗陀罗（kovidāra）、曼陀罗（mandāra）与婆陀罗（badara，枣/酸枣）之树。

Word by Word

• चम्पकान्: campaka trees
• चम्पकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चम्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सप्तपर्णान्: saptaparṇa trees
• सप्तपर्णान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (सप्त पर्णानि यस्य/येषाम्)

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

• कर्णिकारान्: karṇikāra trees
• कर्णिकारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समालतिन्: samālatī trees
• समालतिन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समालतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (छन्दसि/वैकल्पिक-रूप; अपेक्षितं समालतिनः/समालतिनान्)

• पारिजातान्: pārijāta trees
• पारिजातान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिजात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कोविदारान्: kovidāra trees
• कोविदारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोविदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मन्दारान्: mandāra trees
• मन्दारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बदरान्: badara (jujube) trees
• बदरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

Speakers

• Not determinable from the single verse excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses)

Shakti Aspects

• Not applicable

Key Themes

• Sacred geography/nature imagery
• Auspicious flora
• Descriptive cataloging (nāma-saṅgraha style)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse functions as a reverential catalog of auspicious and fragrant trees/creepers, a common Purāṇic technique to evoke a sanctified setting. Ethically, it reinforces attentiveness to the natural world as part of dharma—sacred spaces are marked by life-giving, fragrant, and beneficial flora.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṁśa/vaṁśānucarita by itself; it is descriptive padding that typically supports a vaṁśānucarita or narrative scene-setting. Classification: ancillary descriptive material within itihāsa-style narration rather than a core pañcalakṣaṇa datum.

What is the esoteric significance?

In symbolic readings, fragrant and ‘celestial’ trees like pārijāta and mandāra signify sattva, purity, and the presence of merit (puṇya) in a locale; the diversity of trees can also imply the fullness (pūrṇatā) of a dhārmic realm where prosperity, beauty, and sustenance coexist.