Markandeya Purana — Chapter 54
MkP 54.1
कतिद्वीपाः समुद्रा वा पर्वता वा कति द्विज । कियन्ति चैव वर्षाणि तेषां नद्यश्च का मुने
katidvīpāḥ samudrā vā parvatā vā kati dvija / kiyanti caiva varṣāṇi teṣāṃ nadyaśca kā mune
How many continents are there, or oceans, or how many mountains, O twice-born one? And how many regions, and which are their rivers, O sage?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.4
शतार्धकोटिविस्तारा पृथिवी कृत्स्त्रशो द्विज । तस्या हि स्थानमखिलं कथयामि शृणुष्व तत्
śatārdhakoṭivistārā pṛthivī kṛtstraśo dvija / tasyā hi sthānamakhilaṃ kathayāmi śṛṇuṣva tat
The earth in its entirety is fifty crores (of yojanas) in extent, O twice-born one. I shall tell the whole disposition of it: listen to that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.5
ये ते द्वीपा मया प्रोक्ता जम्बुद्वीपादयो द्विज । पुष्करान्ता महाभाग ! शृण्वेषां विस्तरं पुनः
ye te dvīpā mayā proktā jambudvīpādayo dvija / puṣkarāntā mahābhāga ! śṛṇveṣāṃ vistaraṃ punaḥ
Those continents which have been declared by me, beginning with Jambudvīpa and ending with Puṣkara, O twice-born one, O greatly fortunate one — hear again of their extent.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.6
द्वीपात् तु द्विगुणो द्वीपो जम्बुः प्लक्षो ऽथ शाल्मलः । कुशः क्रौञ्चस्तथा शाकः पुष्करद्वीप एव च
dvīpāt tu dviguṇo dvīpo jambuḥ plakṣo 'tha śālmalaḥ / kuśaḥ krauñcastathā śākaḥ puṣkaradvīpa eva ca
Each continent is twice (the size) of the (preceding) continent: Jambu, then Plakṣa, then Śālmala, Kuśa, Krauñca, likewise Śāka, and Puṣkaradvīpa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.7
लवणेक्षु-सुरा-सर्पिर्दधि-दुग्धःजलाब्धिभिः । द्विगुणैर्द्विगुणैर्वृद्ध्या सर्वतः परिवेष्टिताः
lavaṇekṣu-surā-sarpirdadhi-dugdhaḥjalābdhibhiḥ / dviguṇairdviguṇairvṛddhyā sarvataḥ pariveṣṭitāḥ
They are surrounded on all sides by the oceans of salt, sugarcane juice, liquor, ghee, curds, milk and water, each twice (the preceding) in increasing size.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.8
जम्बुद्वीपस्य संस्थानं प्रवक्ष्ये ऽहं निबोध मे । लक्षमेकं योजनानां वृत्तौ विस्तारदैर्घ्यतः
jambudvīpasya saṃsthānaṃ pravakṣye 'haṃ nibodha me / lakṣamekaṃ yojanānāṃ vṛttau vistāradairghyataḥ
I shall declare the constitution of Jambudvīpa; learn it from me. It is one hundred thousand yojanas in circumference, in breadth and in length.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.9
हिमवान् हेमकूटश्च ऋषभो मेरुरेव च । नीलः श्वेतस्तथा शृङ्गी सप्तास्मिन् वर्षपर्वताः
himavān hemakūṭaśca ṛṣabho merureva ca / nīlaḥ śvetastathā śṛṅgī saptāsmin varṣaparvatāḥ
Himavān, Hemakūṭa, Ṛṣabha, and Meru too, Nīla, Śveta, and Śṛṅgī: seven are the region-mountains in it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.10
द्वौ लक्षयोजनायामौ मध्ये तत्र महाचलौ । तयोर्दक्षिणतो यौ तु यौ तथोत्तरतो गिरी
dvau lakṣayojanāyāmau madhye tatra mahācalau / tayordakṣiṇato yau tu yau tathottarato girī
Two great mountains there in the middle are a hundred thousand yojanas in length; those two which are to the south of them, and those two mountains likewise to the north—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.11
दशभिर्दशभिर्न्यूनैः सहस्रैस्तैः परस्परम् । द्विसाहस्त्रोच्छ्रयाः सर्वे तावद्विस्तारिणश्च ते
daśabhirdaśabhirnyūnaiḥ sahasraistaiḥ parasparam / dvisāhastrocchrayāḥ sarve tāvadvistāriṇaśca te
—(are) less by ten thousand, ten thousand, each in relation to the other. All of them are two thousand in height, and they are just so much in breadth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.12
समुद्रान्तः प्रविष्टाश्च षडस्मिन् वर्षपर्वताः । दक्षिणोत्तरतो निम्ना मध्ये तुङ्गायता क्षितिः
samudrāntaḥ praviṣṭāśca ṣaḍasmin varṣaparvatāḥ / dakṣiṇottarato nimnā madhye tuṅgāyatā kṣitiḥ
Six of the region-mountains in it have entered within the ocean. The land is low on the south and the north, and in the middle it is high and extended.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.13
वेद्यर्धे दक्षिमे त्रीणि त्रीणि वर्षाणि चोत्तरे । इलावृतं तयोर्मध्ये चन्द्रार्धाकारवत् स्थितम्
vedyardhe dakṣime trīṇi trīṇi varṣāṇi cottare / ilāvṛtaṃ tayormadhye candrārdhākāravat sthitam
In the southern half of the altar (-shaped land) there are three regions, and three in the northern; between those two lies Ilāvṛta, shaped like a half-moon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.14
ततः पूर्वेण भद्राश्वं केतुमालञ्च पश्चिमे । इलावृतस्य मध्ये तु मेरुः कनकपर्वतः
tataḥ pūrveṇa bhadrāśvaṃ ketumālañca paścime / ilāvṛtasya madhye tu meruḥ kanakaparvataḥ
Then, to the east of it, is Bhadrāśva, and Ketumāla to the west; and in the middle of Ilāvṛta is Meru, the golden mountain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.15
चतुरशीतिसाहस्त्रस्तस्योच्छ्रायो महागिरेः । प्रविष्टः षोडशाधस्ताद्विस्तीर्णः षोडशैव तु
caturaśītisāhastrastasyocchrāyo mahāgireḥ / praviṣṭaḥ ṣoḍaśādhastādvistīrṇaḥ ṣoḍaśaiva tu
The height of that great mountain is eighty-four thousand (yojanas); it has penetrated sixteen (thousand) below, and it is sixteen (thousand) in breadth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.16
शरावसंस्थितत्वाच्च द्वात्रिंशन्मूर्ध्नि विस्तृतः । शुक्लः पीतो ऽसितो रक्तः प्राच्यादिषु यथाक्रमम्
śarāvasaṃsthitatvācca dvātriṃśanmūrdhni vistṛtaḥ / śuklaḥ pīto 'sito raktaḥ prācyādiṣu yathākramam
And because it is shaped like a shallow dish, it is spread out thirty-two (thousand) at the summit. It is white, yellow, black and red in the east and the other directions respectively,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.17
विप्रो वैश्यस्तथा शूद्रः क्षत्रियश्च स्ववर्णतः । तस्योपरि तथैवाष्टौ पुर्यो दिक्षु यथाक्रमम्
vipro vaiśyastathā śūdraḥ kṣatriyaśca svavarṇataḥ / tasyopari tathaivāṣṭau puryo dikṣu yathākramam
(The four sides are coloured) after their own class: the brahmin's, the vaiśya's, the śūdra's and the kṣatriya's; and above that, likewise, eight cities in the (eight) directions in order.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 54.18
इन्द्रादिलोकपालानां तन्मध्ये ब्रह्मणः सभा । योजनानां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश समुच्छ्रिता
indrādilokapālānāṃ tanmadhye brahmaṇaḥ sabhā / yojanānāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa samucchritā
(These are the cities) of the world-guardians beginning with Indra; in the midst of them is the assembly hall of Brahmā, rising up fourteen thousand yojanas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.19
अयुतोच्छ्रायास्तस्याधस्तथा विषकम्भवर्वताः । प्राच्यादिषु क्रमेणैव मन्दरो गन्धमादनः
ayutocchrāyāstasyādhastathā viṣakambhavarvatāḥ / prācyādiṣu krameṇaiva mandaro gandhamādanaḥ
Below it are the buttress-mountains, ten thousand (yojanas) in height: in the east and the rest, in order, Mandara, Gandhamādana,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.20
विपुलश्च सुपार्श्वश्च केतुपादपशोभिताः । कदम्बो मन्दरे केतुर्जम्बुव गन्धमादने
vipulaśca supārśvaśca ketupādapaśobhitāḥ / kadambo mandare keturjambuva gandhamādane
Vipula, and Supārśva, adorned by their banner-trees: on Mandara the kadamba is the banner, on Gandhamādana the jambu,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.21
विपुले च तथाश्वत्थः सुपार्श्वे च वटो महान् । एकादशशतायामा योजनानामिमे नगाः
vipule ca tathāśvatthaḥ supārśve ca vaṭo mahān / ekādaśaśatāyāmā yojanānāmime nagāḥ
and on Vipula the aśvattha, and on Supārśva a great banyan. These mountains extend eleven hundred yojanas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.22
जठरो देवकूटश्च पूर्वस्यां दिशि पर्वतौ । आनीलनिषधौ प्राप्तौ परस्परनिरन्तरौ
jaṭharo devakūṭaśca pūrvasyāṃ diśi parvatau / ānīlaniṣadhau prāptau parasparanirantarau
Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa are the two mountains in the eastern direction, reaching to Nīla and Niṣadha, with no gap between one another.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.23
निषधः पारियात्रश्च मेरोः पार्श्वे तु पश्चिमे । यथा पूर्वौ तथा चैतावानीलनिषधायतौ
niṣadhaḥ pāriyātraśca meroḥ pārśve tu paścime / yathā pūrvau tathā caitāvānīlaniṣadhāyatau
Niṣadha and Pāriyātra are on Meru's western side; as the two former, so these two extend (between) Nīla and Niṣadha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 54.24
कैलासो हिमवांश्चैव दक्षिणेन महाचलौ । पूर्वपश्चायतावेतावर्णवान्तर्व्यवस्थितौ
kailāso himavāṃścaiva dakṣiṇena mahācalau / pūrvapaścāyatāvetāvarṇavāntarvyavasthitau
Kailāsa and Himavat are the two great mountains on the south; these two extend east and west, situated within the ocean.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.25
शृङ्गवान् जारुधिश्चैव तथैवोत्तरपर्वतौ । यतैव दक्षिणे तद्वदर्णप्वान्तर्व्यवस्थितौ
śṛṅgavān jārudhiścaiva tathaivottaraparvatau / yataiva dakṣiṇe tadvadarṇapvāntarvyavasthitau
Śṛṅgavān and Jārudhi are likewise the two northern mountains; just as those on the south, so these too are situated within the ocean.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.26
मर्यादापर्वता ह्येते कथ्यन्ते ऽष्टौ द्विजोत्तम । हिमवद्धेमकूटादिपर्वतानां परस्परम्
maryādāparvatā hyete kathyante 'ṣṭau dvijottama / himavaddhemakūṭādiparvatānāṃ parasparam
These eight, O best of the twice-born, are declared to be the boundary mountains, (lying) between the mountains Himavat, Hemakūṭa and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.27
नवयोजनसाहस्त्रं प्रागुदग्दक्षिणोत्तरम् । मेरोरिलावृते तद्वदन्तरे वै चतुर्दिशम्
navayojanasāhastraṃ prāgudagdakṣiṇottaram / merorilāvṛte tadvadantare vai caturdiśam
Nine thousand yojanas east, north, south (and west); so too in the interval, in Ilāvṛta of Meru, on all four sides.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 54.28
फलानि यानि वै जम्ब्वाः गन्धमादनपर्वते । गजदेहप्रमाणानि पतन्ति गिरिमूर्धनि
phalāni yāni vai jambvāḥ gandhamādanaparvate / gajadehapramāṇāni patanti girimūrdhani
The fruits of the jambu tree on Mount Gandhamādana, which are the size of an elephant's body, fall on the summit of the mountain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.29
तेषां स्त्रावात् प्रभवति ख्याता जम्बूनदीति वै । यत्र जाम्बूनदं नाम कनकं सम्प्रजायते
teṣāṃ strāvāt prabhavati khyātā jambūnadīti vai / yatra jāmbūnadaṃ nāma kanakaṃ samprajāyate
From their flowing juice arises the river renowned as Jambū, where the gold called jāmbūnada is produced.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.30
सा परिक्रम्य वै मेरुं जम्बूमूलं पुनर्नदी । विशति द्विजशार्दूल ! पीयमाना जनैश्च तैः
sā parikramya vai meruṃ jambūmūlaṃ punarnadī / viśati dvijaśārdūla ! pīyamānā janaiśca taiḥ
That river, having circled Meru, enters again the root of the jambu tree, O tiger among the twice-born, while being drunk by those people.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.31
भद्राश्वे ऽश्वशिरा विष्णुर्भारते कूर्मसंस्थितिः । वराहः केतुमाले च मत्स्यरूपस्तथोत्तरे
bhadrāśve 'śvaśirā viṣṇurbhārate kūrmasaṃsthitiḥ / varāhaḥ ketumāle ca matsyarūpastathottare
In Bhadrāśva Viṣṇu is horse-headed; in Bhārata he abides as the tortoise; in Ketumāla he is the boar, and in the north he has the form of a fish.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 54.32
तेषु नक्षत्रविन्यासाद्विषयाः समवस्थिताः । चतुर्ष्वपि द्विजश्रेष्ठ ! ग्रहाभिभवपाठकाः
teṣu nakṣatravinyāsādviṣayāḥ samavasthitāḥ / caturṣvapi dvijaśreṣṭha ! grahābhibhavapāṭhakāḥ
In these — in all four, O best of the twice-born — the regions are arranged according to the disposition of the lunar mansions, (and the people there are) reciters of the overpowering influence of the planets.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain