Markandeyapurana 55
English (machine translation) 55
- Language
- English
Contents
- 55.23 — 2 parts
55.1
Mārkaṇḍeya said:
On the four mountains beginning with Mandara, O best of brahmins,
learn from me of the four forests and lakes.
55.2
To the east is Caitraratha by name; to the south is the Nandana forest;
Vaibhrāja is on the western mountain, and Sāvitra on the northern mountain.
55.3
Lake Aruṇoda is to the east, and Mānasa to the south;
Śītoda is to the west of Meru, and Mahābhadra to the north.
55.4
Śītārta, Cakramuñja, Kulīra, then Sukaṅkavat,
Maṇiśaila, then Vṛṣavat, Mahānīla, Bhavācala,
55.5
Sūbindu, Mandara, Veṇu, Tāmasa, and Niṣadha,
and the Deva mountain—to the east of Mandara, a great mountain;
55.6
and the mountain Trikaṭaśikhara, Kaliṅga, then Pataṅgaka,
Rucaka, and the mountain Sānumat, Tāmraka, then Viśākhavat,
55.7
Śvetodara, Samūla, Vasudhāra, and Ratnavat,
the great mountain Ekaśṛṅga, Rājaśāla, Pipāṭhaka,
55.8
Pañcaśaila, then Kailāsa, and Himavat, the best of mountains—
these are declared the great mountains on the southern side of Meru.
55.9
Surakṣa, Śiśirākṣa, Vaidūrya, and Kapila,
Piñjara, then Mahābhadra, Surasa, Piṅgala, Madhu,
55.10
Añjana, Kukkuṭa, Kṛṣṇa, and Pāṇḍara, the best of mountains,
and the mountain Sahasraśikhara, Pāriyātra with Śṛṅgavat—
55.11
to the west of Meru, outside its western buttress-range,
these mountains have been enumerated; now hear of the northern ones:
55.12
Śaṅkhakūṭa, then Vṛṣabha, and the mountain Haṃsanābha,
and the mountain Kapilendra, Sānumat, and Nīla,
55.13
Svarṇaśṛṅgin, Śātaśṛṅgin, Puṣpaka, Mount Megha,
Virajākṣa, Mount Varāha, Mayūra, and Jārudhi—
55.14
these, O brahmin, are recounted as the mountains to the north of Meru.
And the valleys of these mountains are exceedingly charming,
55.15
adorned with forests and lakes of pure water;
in them is the birth of humans who have performed meritorious deeds, O best of the twice-born.
55.16
These are earthly paradises, O best of the twice-born, surpassing the heavens in excellence;
in them there is no acquisition of unprecedented merit or sin.
55.17
Only the enjoyment of merit, even for the gods, is spoken of in them;
and in these mountains, beginning with Śītānta, O most virtuous of the twice-born,
55.18
are the splendid, great abodes of Vidyādharas, Yakṣas,
Kinnaras, serpents, rākṣasas, gods, and Gandharvas,
55.19
highly auspicious, always endowed with delightful groves,
and delightful lakes; and the breeze brings comfort in all seasons.
55.20
Nor is there any depression of mind for human beings in them anywhere.
Thus has this four-petalled earthly lotus been described by me,
55.21
whose petals in the four directions are Bhadrāśva, Bhārata, and the others.
As for the realm named Bhārata that has been described by me to the south,
55.22
that is the land of action; nowhere else is there the attainment of merit and sin.
This should be understood as the foremost, on which everything is established.
55.23
From it, O twice-born, a person attains heaven and liberation,
as well as the human state, hell, or the condition of animals, or any other state.
55.23.p1
Thus ends the fifty-fifth chapter in the glorious Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, in the Bhuvanakośa.
55.23.p2
Fifty-sixth chapter – 56
Translations (1)
- The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa — Frederick Eden Pargiter 1888, English
Linked texts (1)
- Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit