मेरु

यन्त्रोपारोपितकोशांशः

कल्पद्रुमः

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

मेरुः, पुं, (मि + “मिपीभ्यां रुः ।” उणा० ४ । १०१ । इति रुः ।) पर्व्वतविशेषः । तत्पर्य्यायः । सुमेरुः २ हेमाद्रिः ३ रत्नसानुः ४ सुरा- लयः ५ । इत्यमरः ॥ मिनोति क्षिपति ज्योतींषि उच्चत्वात् मेरुः । डुमि ञ्न क्षेपे नाम्नीति रुः । इति भरतः ॥ * ॥ (यथा, मात्स्ये । १२१ । ८ । “देवर्षिगन्धर्व्वयुतः प्रथमो मेरुरुच्यते । प्रागायतः ससौवर्ण उदयो नाम पर्व्वतः ॥”) जपमालाग्रवर्त्तिन्येका माला । यथा, -- “मालामेकैकमादाय सूत्रे सम्पातयेत् सुधीः । मुखे मुखन्तु संयोज्य पुच्छे पुच्छन्तु योजयेत् ॥ गोपुच्छसदृशी कार्य्याथवा सर्पाकृतिर्भवेत् । तत्सजातीयमेकाक्षं मेरुत्वेनाग्रतो न्यसेत् ॥” इत्युत्पत्तितन्त्रे ६० पटलः ॥ * ॥ करमालायां मेरुर्यथा, -- “तिस्रोऽङ्गुल्यस्त्रिपर्व्वाणो मध्यमा चैकपर्व्विका । पर्व्वद्वयं मध्यमाया मेरुत्वे नोपकल्पयेत् ॥” इदन्तु शक्तिभिन्नविषयम् ॥ * ॥ शक्तिविषये मेरुर्यथा, -- “पर्व्वद्बयमनामायाः परिवर्त्तेन वै क्रमात् । पर्व्वत्रयं मध्यमायास्तर्ज्जन्येकं समाहरेत् । पर्व्वद्वयन्तु तर्ज्जन्या मेरुं तद्विद्धि पार्व्वति ! ॥” श्रीविद्याविषये मेरुर्यथा, -- “अनामामध्यमायाश्च मूलाग्रन्तु द्बयं द्बयम् । कनिष्ठायाश्च तर्ज्जन्यास्त्रयं पर्व्व सुरेश्वरि ! । अनामामध्यमायाश्च मेरुः स्याद्द्वितयं शुभम् ॥” तल्लङ्घितजपे दोषो यथा, -- “अङ्गुल्यग्रेषु यज्जप्तं यज्जप्तं मेरुलङ्घने । पर्व्वसन्धिषु यज्जप्तं तत् सर्व्वं निष्फलं भवेत् ॥” इति तन्त्रसारः ॥

अमरकोशः

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

मेरु पुं।

मेरुपर्वतः

समानार्थक:मेरु,सुमेरु,हेमाद्रि,रत्नसानु,सुरालय

1।1।49।2।1

मन्दाकिनी वियद्गङ्गा स्वर्णदी सुरदीर्घिका। मेरुः सुमेरुर्हेमाद्री रत्नसानुः सुरालयः॥

पदार्थ-विभागः : , द्रव्यम्, पृथ्वी, अचलनिर्जीवः, स्थानम्, प्राकृतिकस्थानम्

वाचस्पत्यम्

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

मेरु¦ पु॰ मि--रु। सर्ववर्षेभ्य उत्तरस्थे

१ पर्वतभेदे जपमालोप-रिस्थे

२ फलवीजादिके

३ कररूपमालायामङ्गलिपर्वभेदे च

शब्दसागरः

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

मेरु¦ m. (-रुः)
1. The sacred mountain Me4ru, in the centre of the seven continents, compared to the cup or seed-vessel of the lotus, the leaves of which are formed by the different Dwipas: its height is said by the Hindus to be 84,000 Yojanas, sixteen thousand of which are below the surface of the earth: the shape is various- ly described, as square, conical, columnar, spherical, or spiral; and the four faces of it are of various colours, or white towards the east, yellow to the south, black to the west, and red towards the north: the river Ganges falls from heaven on its summit, and flows thence to the surrounding worlds in four streams; the southern branch is the Ganges of India, the northern running into Tartary is the Bhadraso4ma4, the eastern is the Sita4, and the wes- tern the Chacshu or Oxus: on the summit of Me4ru BRAHMA4 re- sides attended and worshipped by the Rishis, Gandharbas, &c.; the regents of the points of the compass occupy the correspond- ing faces of the mountain, the whole of which consists of gold and gems: considered in any but a fabulous light, mount Me4ru appears to mean the high land of Tartary, immediately to the north of the Hima4laya mountains.
2. The central bead in a rosary.
3. The middle gem in a necklace. E. मि to scatter, (radiance,) Una4di aff. रु।

Apte

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

मेरुः [mēruḥ], 1 N. of a fabulous mountain (round which all the planets are said to revolve and which forms the centre of the several Dvīpas; cf. द्वीप; it is also said to consist of gold and gems); विभज्य मेरुर्न यदर्थिसात् कृतः N.1.16; स्वात्मन्येव समाप्तहेममहिमा मेरुर्न मे रोचते Bh.3.15.

The central bead in a rosary.

The central gem of a necklace. -Comp. -अद्रिकर्णिका the earth. -धामन्m. an epithet of Śiva. -पृष्ठम् heaven, the sky. -मन्दरः N. of a mountain. -यन्त्रम् a figure shaped like a spindle. -सावर्णः N. of one of the fourteen Manus.

Monier-Williams

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

मेरु m. ( Un2. iv , 101 ) N. of a fabulous mountain (regarded as the Olympus of Hindu mythology and said to form the central point of जम्बु-द्वीप; all the planets revolve round it and it is compared to the cup or seed-vessel of a lotus , the leaves of which are formed by the different द्वि१पs See. ; the river Ganges falls from heaven on its summit , and flows thence to the surrounding worlds in four streams ; the regents of the four quarters of the compass occupy the corresponding faces of the mountain , the whole of which consists of gold and gems ; its summit is the residence of ब्रह्मा, and a place of meeting for the gods , ऋषिs , गन्धर्वs etc. , when not regarded as a fabulous mountain , it appears to mean the highland of Tartary north of the हिमा-लय) MBh. Ka1v. etc.

मेरु m. a partic. kind of temple VarBr2S.

मेरु m. the central or most prominent bead in a rosary L.

मेरु m. the most prominent finger-joint in partic. positions of the fingers L.

मेरु m. N. of the palace of गान्धारि(one of the wives of कृष्ण) Hariv.

मेरु m. of a चक्र-वर्तिन्L.

मेरु m. (with शास्त्रिन्)of a modern teacher Cat.

मेरु m. of another man Ra1jat.

मेरु f. N. of the wife of नाभिand mother of ऋषभVP. (See. -देवी).

Purana index

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

(I)--(Mt.) the hill that stands in the middle of इलावृत, equal in height to the length of जम्बूद्वीप, sur- rounded on four sides by Mandara, Merumandara, सुपार्श्व and Kumuda. In these four ranges are four great trees-- Mango, Jambu, कडम्ब and Banyan; four pools of milk, honey, sugarcane and fresh water; four celestial gardens-- Nandana, Caitraratha, वैभ्राजक, and Sarvatobhadra. Encircling the base of Meru, stand two hills. On the east are जठर and देवकूट; on the west Pavana and पारि- यात्र; on the south कैलास and करवीर, and on the north त्रिशृन्ग and Makara. In the central part of its summit is ब्रह्मा's square city of gold. Surrounding the outskirts of that city, are the eight cities of the eight guardians. फलकम्:F1:  भा. V. १६ (whole); २०. 2; VIII. 5. १८; Br. I. 1. ६९; 4. २८.फलकम्:/F There is a forest at its foot where Rudra sports with पार्वती; भागवन् identified with; फलकम्:F2:  भा. IX. 1. २५.फलकम्:/F one of the six वर्षपर्वतस् of जम्बूद्वीप occupying the middle portion. The dwelling- [page२-737+ ३६] place of Deva गणस्; on its four sides are four countries, भा- द्राश्व, Bharata, केतुमाला, and Uttarakuru. फलकम्:F4:  Ib. II. १५. १६, ४२-51; १७. १९, ३४, ८४; २१, १४, २८-34; III. 7. १९४, २५८; ६१. २४; ६३. ३६; ६६. 7; IV. 1. २४; 9. १७; Vi. II. 1. २०-22; 2. ३९-41; 8. १९; V. 1. १२, ६६; ३८. ७२.फलकम्:/F The relation of Dhruva to. फलकम्:F5:  Br. II. २३. १०८.फलकम्:/F Here the sages met to consider a certain question and it was announced that he, who did not arrive in time would have to submit himself to the प्रायस्चित्त of brahmicide. वैशम्पायन unable to go, undertook to do so. फलकम्:F6:  Ib. II. २५. ९६; ३५, १५-18.फलकम्:/F Acted as milkman of hills in milking the cow-earth. फलकम्:F7:  M. 2. ३३; १०. २६; Br. II. ३६. २२३.फलकम्:/F सावर्णि Manu's penance at. फलकम्:F8:  M. ११. ३८.फलकम्:/F North of it were ruling १५ sons of विकुक्षि and south of it ११४ sons of इक्ष्वाकु of whom ककुश्थ was the eldest. फलकम्:F9:  Ib. १२. २६-8; ११३. १२ff; १२४. १३; १६३. ८३; १८२. २१; १८३. 1; १८४. १८; २४९. १२.फलकम्:/F ^3 Ib. XI. १६. २१; Br. II. १३. ३२ and ३६.

(II)--a temple with १०० beautiful towers, four gates, sixteen storeys and many fine turrets; the तोरण of Meru is ५० हस्तस्। M. २६९. २८, ३१, ४७.

(III)--a दानव with मनुष्य धर्म। वा. ६८. १५.

(IV)--the mother of Niyati and आयति. Vi. I. १०. 3.

Purana Encyclopedia

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

Meru^1  : m.: Name of a mountain, also referred to as Mahāmeru (1. 65. 36; 3. 160. 12, 14, 28; 9. 36. 20; 12. 14. 22-24; 12. 59. 122; 12. 321. 13; 13. 14. 156; 14. 44. 12).


A. Location: In the Svarloka (upariṣṭād asau loko yo 'yaṁ svar iti saṁjñitaḥ/…meruḥ parvatarāḍ yatra) 3. 247. 2, 8; in the north (udīcīṁ dīpayann eṣa diśaṁ tiṣṭhati kīrtiṁān/mahāmeruḥ) 3. 160. 12; 3. 155. 13-14; 12. 320. 9; 17. 2. 2; on the summit of the mountain Himavant (śṛṅge himavato merau) 12. 122. 3; on the northern side of the Himavant (himavatpārśva uttare) 14. 4. 25; beyond the Himavant 17. 2. 2; between the Mālyavant lying to its east and the Gandhamādana lying to its west lies the circular mountain Meru 6. 7. 8 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 9: nīlaniṣadhayor madhye merus tasya prāk mālyavān pūrvasamudrāvadhiḥ paścimasamudrāvadhir gandhamādana ity arthaḥ); Śuka after crossing the Varṣas of Meru and Hari (i. e. the Ilāvṛta and the Harivarṣa Varṣas) and that of Himavant (called Kiṁpuruṣa) reached the Bhāratavarṣa (meror hareś ca dve varṣe varṣaṁ haimavataṁ tathā/krameṇaiva vyatikramya bhārataṁ varṣam āsadat) 12. 312. 14 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 325. 14: meror varṣaṁ ilāvṛtam/ harer varṣaṁ harivarṣākhyam/haimavataṁ varṣaṁ kiṁpuruṣākhyam); to the north of Meru is the Kṣīroda (milky ocean) (meror uttarabhāge tu kṣīrodasyānukūlataḥ) 12. 323. 21; from the summit of the Meru one can see in the north-west Śvetadvīpa to the north of the Kṣīrodadhi (ālokayann uttarapaścimena dadarśa…kṣīrodadher uttarato hi dvīpaḥ śvetaḥ sa nāmnā prathitaḥ) 12. 322. 7-8; the Śvetadvīpa was at a distance of 32000 yojanas in the north from the foot of the mount Meru (meroḥ sahasraiḥ sa hi yojanānāṁ dvātriṁśatordhvaṁ kavibhir niruktaḥ) 12. 322. 8 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 335. 9: merumūlāt dvātriṁśatsahasrayojanād ūrdhvam); on its four sides (tasya pārśve) are the four Dvīpas, viz. the Bhadrāśva, the Ketumāla, the Jambūdvīpa and the Uttara Kurus 6. 7. 11; to the north of the Mahāmeru is the Bhadrāśva 12. 14. 24; to the east of the Mahāmeru is the Śākadvīpa 12. 14. 23; to the west of the Mahāmeru is the Krauñcadvīpa 12. 14. 22; on the western side of the Meru is the Ketumāla, to the south of the Nīla and to the north of the Meru are the Uttara Kurus, and to the east of the Meru is the Bhadrāśva 6. 7. 29; 6. 8. 2, 13; the river Śailodā flows between the Meru and the Mandara 2. 48. 2.


B. Extent: Its extent is thirty three thousand yojanas (trayastriṁśat sahasrāṇi yojanānām…meruḥ) 3. 247. 8; it is sixteen thousand yojanas deep and eighty four (thousand) yojanas high; it covers the worlds above, within and crosswise (yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi ṣoḍaśādhaḥ kila smṛtaḥ// uccaiś ca caturāśītir yojanānāṁ mahīpate/ ūrdhvam antaś ca tiryak ca lokān āvṛtya tiṣṭhati//) 6. 7. 9-10 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 11: adhastāt bhūmer garbhe); its peak was a hundred yojanas high crosswise and above (śatayojanavistāre tiryag ūrdhvam ca… saṁdadarśa ha) 12. 320. 9.


C. Description: Auspicious (śiva) 3. 160. 12, 14; big (mahāgiri) 1. 15. 7; 8. 27, 59; (mahāśaila) 3. 102. 2; 17. 2. 2; rising up to the sky (gaganam ucchritaḥ) 12. 175. 37; nākam āvṛtya tiṣṭhantam ucchrayeṇa) 1. 15. 7; having many peaks (anekaśṛṅgavant) 9. 44. 13; king of mountains (parvatarāṭ) 3. 247. 8; (adrirāja) 3. 102. 2; (nagendra) 1. 93. 6; 1. 216. 34; excellent among the mountains (śikhariṇām varam) 17. 2. 2; (śreṣṭhaṁ śikhariṇāṁ) 5. 63. 5; (girivara) 12. 327. 18; 13. 84. 64; (parvatottama) 12. 320. 11 (said of Meru or Himavant ?); its peak (uttama) 3. 160. 16; no other mountain is as excellent as Meru (anuttama) 1. 15. 5; its top (pṛṣṭha) is elevated for many kalpas (?) (anekakalpam udviddham) 1. 15. 9 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 1. 17. 9: anantakalpaṁ ananto viṣṇur ākāśo vā tata īṣan nyūnam/bahuguṇatvād atipramāṇatvāc ca/īṣad asamāptau kalpap/udviddham uccam/); its summits rise high (śikharaiḥ…ucchritaiḥ) 6. 78. 26; very high (śṛṅgair atyartham ucchritaiḥ) 6. 106. 33; circular (parimaṇḍala) 6. 7. 8; steady, unshakable (acala) 1. 15. 5; 6. 59. 8; 6. 74. 24; 7. 33. 18; (7. 149. 17); 8. 31. 62; firm (sthairyeṇa meroḥ) 8. 48. 9; its peak (śṛṅga) unequalled (apratima) 12. 320. 8; immeasurable, immeasurable in all the worlds (aprameya) 1. 15. 6; (aprameyaṁ… sarvalokeṣu) 12. 274. 5; unassailable in all the worlds (anādhṛṣyaṁ sarvalokeṣu) 12. 274. 5; unassailable by impious persons (anādhṛṣyam adharmabahulair janaiḥ) 1. 15. 6; inaccessible to ordinary people even in thought (agamyaṁ manasāpy anyaiḥ) 1. 15. 8 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 1. 17. 8: agamyaṁ aprāpyam anyaiḥ prākṛtaiḥ); its region (deśa) free from dust (virajas) 3. 160. 16; free from diseases (anāmaya) 3. 160. 14; famous (kīrtimant) 3. 160. 12; has many peaks (aṅekaśṛṅgavant) 9. 44. 13; golden mountain (kanakaparvata) 3. 102. 2; 3. 186. 103; 6. 7. 8; 12. 59. 122; 12. 122. 3; (kāñcanaparvata) 13. 101. 6; (hiraṇmaya) 3. 247. 8; (kāñcana) 1. 216. 34; (7. 60. 17); it has gold as its ornament (kāñcanābharaṇa) 1. 15. 6; its peak (śṛṅga) is golden (rukmamaya) 12. 320. 8; it excels with its peaks, shining with gold, the lustre of the sun (ākṣipantaṁ prabhāṁ bhānoḥ svaśṛṅgaiḥ kāñcanojjvalaiḥ) 1. 15. 5; (śikharaiḥ kāñcanamayaiḥ) 6. 78. 26; (7. 96. 4); its foot (pāda) is golden (kāñcana) 14. 4. 25; its slopes (giritaṭa) are ornamented with gold (hemadhātuvibhūṣita) 12. 274. 6; it is covered all over with splendid, golden houses (bhavanair āvṛtaḥ sarvair jāmbūnadamayaiḥ śubhaiḥ) 6. 7. 15; its surface (pṛṣṭha) is full of many jewels (bahuratnācita) 1. 15. 9; its peak (śṛṅga) is adorned with all kinds of jewels (sarvaratnavibhūṣita) 12. 274. 5; very large number of jewels on Meru alluded to in 13. 27. 97; it is a mass of lustre (tejorāśi) 1. 15. 5; burning (jvalant) 1. 15. 5; lustrous (śrīmant) 7. 33. 18; of great lustre (mahādyuti) 1. 216. 34; it is illuminated with heavenly herbs (divyauṣadhividīpita) 1. 15. 7; it is yellow (pīta) 12. 320. 8; its peaks (śṛṅga) and tops (pṛṣṭha) are shining (śubha) 12. 320. 8-9; 1. 15. 9; its peak (śṛṅga) is heavenly (divya) and splendid (rucira) 12. 320. 8; highly lustrous (mahādyuti) 1. 216. 34; it is very lustrous all around like the sun and like smokeless fire (ādityataruṇābhāso vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ) 6. 7. 9; it brightens the north (udīcīṁ dīpayann eṣa diśaṁ tiṣṭhati) 3. 160. 12; lustrous (citra) 1. 15. 6; Meru looked upon as an excellent crest of the earth (pṛthivīm…meruvarottaṁsām) 1. 159. 20; Meru and Mandara are the two ornaments of the earth (merumandarabhūṣaṇām…vasuṁdharām) 3. 187. 10; pleasing (ramya) 12. 327. 18; the forest on it is pleasing (ramya), full of flowers (supuṣpita) and agreeable due to the singing of the Kinnaras (kinnaragītajuṣṭa) 13. 105. 20; its peak (śṛṅga) has forests of Karṇikāra trees (karṇikāravanāyuta) 12. 310. 11; on the northern side of the mountain is a forest of the Karṇikāra trees which is heavenly, auspicious, pleasing, flowering in all seasons and which has grown out of the crevices in its slabs (pārśve tasyottare divyaṁ sarvartukusumaṁ śivam/karṇikāravanaṁ ramyaṁ śilājālasamudgatam//) 6. 7. 22; the mountain has many rivers and forests (nadīvṛkṣasamanvita) 1. 15. 8; full of heavenly flowers and fruits (divyapuṣpaphalānvita) 6. 7. 15; resounding with the sounds of various, attractive birds (nānāpatagasaṁghaiś ca nāditaṁ sumanoharaiḥ) 1. 15. 8; resorted to by gods and the Gandharvas (devagandharvasevita) 1. 15. 6; also by the Siddhas and the Cāraṇas (siddhacāraṇasevita) 12. 327. 18; haunted by fierce beasts of prey (vyālair ācaritaṁ ghoraiḥ) 1. 15. 7; also see the next section


C. Characteristics and the entry Jyotiṣka: the peak on mountain Meru.


C. Characteristics:

(1) Lustre is the chief characteristic of Meru (prabhāṁ meroḥ) 13. 98. 10;

(2) Aśvatthāman had the gaurava (respectability, respy. heaviness) of Meru (merugauravam) 9. 5. 8;

(3) Kaṇiṅka (Bharadvāja) told king Śatruṁtapa that one should adopt what is best in Meru, i. e. its best characteristics (meroḥ…yac chreṣṭhaṁ tat samācaret) 12. 138. 21 (according to Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 140. 21 these are acañcalatvam anullaṅghanīyatvaṁ; according to Arjunamiśra sarvoccaprakṛtitvaṁ; according to Vimalabodha koṣabahulatvaṁ sarvoccaprakṛtitvaṁ ca; see Editor's notes, Cr. Ed. Vol. 14, p. 936);

(4) Prajāpati dwells in his residence (brahmasadas) on the Mahāmeru while creating the worlds; he dwells there with gods 3. 160. 13, 16; on the summit of Meru there is the abode (sadana) of Svayaṁbhū (Brahmadeva) 13. 92. 7; Meru forms the pericarp of the lotus (i. e. the earth) (karṇikā tasya padmasya meruḥ); sitting on it Brahman creates the world 12. 175. 37;

(5) The seven mindborn sons of Brahman, Dakṣa and others, also live on the Mahāmeru 3. 160. 14;

(6) beyond the residence (sadana) of Brahman on the Meru shines the highest place (paraṁ sthānam) of Nārāyaṇa 3. 160. 17-18;

(7) There god Paśupati (Śiva) himself sports with Umā and other divine beings (divyair bhūtaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ) wearing a garland of Karṇikāra flowers reaching down up to his feet and illuminating the surroundings on the mountain with his three eyes; the Siddhas there can see him 6. 7. 23-24;

(8) The seven high-souled sages and Kaśyapa Prajāpati visit the mountain on every parvan day 6. 7. 19;

(9) On the top of Meru, Uśanas Kāvya sports with the Daityas (tasyaiva mūrdhany uśanāḥ kāvyo daityaiḥ…) 6. 7. 20 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 22: ramata iti śeṣaḥ);

(10) The gods have their gardens there (yatra devodyānāni) 3. 247. 8; there the hosts of gods, the Gandharvas, the Asuras and the Rākṣasas always sport in the company of the Apsarases 6. 7. 16;

(11) There Brahman, Rudra and Śakra, the king of gods, come together and offer various sacrifices giving many dakṣiṇās (sametya vividhair yajñair yajante 'nekadakṣiṇaiḥ) 6. 7. 17;

(12) All the jewels and the six jewelled mountains (ṣaḍ ete ratnaparvatāḥ 6. 7. 2) belong to Meru (tasya hīmāni ratnāni tasyeme ratnaparvatāḥ) 6. 7. 20 (Nī., however, on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 22: tasya kāvyasya); from it Kubera gets one fourth share and from what he has obtained he gives to men a portion of its sixteenth part (tasmāt kubero bhagavāṁś caturthaṁ bhāgam aśnute/tataḥ kalāṁśaṁ vittasya manuṣyebhyaḥ prayacchati//) 6. 7. 21 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 23: kalāṁśaṁ ṣoḍaśabhāgasyāpi leśam);

(13) Tumburu, Nārada, Viśvāvasu, Hahā, Huhū and the foremost among gods gather together and praise (mount Meru) with praises 6. 7. 18;

(14) The sun (āditya) drags behind him all the luminaries and going round Meru, keeping it to the right, he dispels darkness (etaṁ jyotīṁṣi sarvāṇi prakarṣan bhagavān api/kurute vitamaskarmā ādityo 'bhipradakṣiṇam) 3. 160. 24; the sun goes to the Asta mountain and, passing the twilight there (saṁdhyām atikramya) he goes to the north; again continuing his journey along Meru (sa merum anuvṛttaḥ san) the sun goes eastwards 3. 160. 25-26; 3. 102. 2-3; this path of the sun is unhindered (mārgam etad asambādham ādityaḥ parivartate) 3. 160. 29; this route of the sun round Meru was ordained by the Creator of the world (eṣa mārgaḥ pradiṣṭo me yenedaṁ nirmitaṁ jagat) 3. 102. 4; similarly the moon, along with the nakṣatras, moves round Meru dividing the duration of the month into parvans and returns to Mandara (sa māsaṁ vibhajan kālaṁ bahudhā parvasaṁdhiṣu/ tathaiva bhagavān somo nakṣatraiḥ saha gacchati//) 3. 160. 27-28; besides the sun, the moon and the nakṣatras, Vāyu also moves round Meru keeping it to the right (anuparyeti…vāyuś caiva pradakṣiṇam) 6. 7. 14;

(15) The seven divine sages (devarṣayaḥ), chief among whom is Vasiṣṭha, also set on this mountain and again rise there (atraiva pratitiṣṭhanti punar atrodayanti ca) 3. 160. 15;

(16) All birds on mount Meru are golden (sauvarṇān prekṣya vāyasān) 6. 7. 12; seeing them the bird Sumukha, son of Suparṇa, thought of leaving mount Meru since it made no distinction between the best, the intermediate, and the lowest (merur uttamamadhyānām adhamānāṁ ca pakṣiṇām/aviśeṣakaro yasmāt tasmād enaṁ tyajāmy aham//) 6. 7. 13;

(17) There is a large, good-looking (sudarśana 13. 105. 20) Jambū tree called Sudarśana (sudarśano nāma) on mount Meru 6. 8. 18; the river formed by the juice of the fruit of this tree flows round Meru and goes to the Uttara Kurus (meruṁ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā saṁprayāty uttarān kurūn) 6. 8. 23;

(18) From the summit of mount Meru the river Gaṅgā Bhāgīrathī falls down with terrific speed in the Cāndramasa lake 6. 7. 26-27;

(19) Various tribes like the Khaśas, the Ekāśanājyohas (?), the Pradaras, the Dīrghaveṇus, the Paśupas, the Kuṇindas, the Taṅgaṇas, and the Parataṅgaṇas live in the valley of the mountains Meru and Mandara (merumandarayor madhye) 2. 48. 2-3;

(20) Swans and vultures go to Meru by passing through a hole in the Krauñca mountain made by Skanda 3. 214. 31.


D. Holiness: One who falls down along the preciplce of Meru is freed of all blemishes (meruprapātaṁ prapatan…mucyate sarvakilbiśaiḥ) 12. 36. 14; Brāhmaṇas who are truthful, learned, kind to all beings, who study the Itihāsa and the Purāṇa, who offer honey offerings to Brāhmaṇas (madhvāhutyā juhvati ca dvijebhyaḥ) go to the regions of Meru 13. 105. 21-22.


E. Importance:

(1) While narrating his vibhūtis Bhagavān told Arjuna that he was Meru among the mountains (meruḥ śikhariṇām aham) 6. 32. 23;

(2) Meru is the ultimate place where the knowers of Brahman go (brahmavidāṁ gatiḥ) 3. 160. 12;

(3) Śiva is the Mahāmeru among mountains (parvatānāṁ mahāmeruḥ) 13. 14. 156;

(4) Mahāmeru was the first to be created among all the mountains (parvatānāṁ mahāmeruḥ sarveṣām agrajaḥ smṛtaḥ) 14. 44. 12;

(5) When Śiva appointed some one in each class as its head he made Meru the chief of the mountains (parvatāṇāṁ patim) 12. 122. 28;

(6) Finds mention in the Daivata-ṚṣiVaṁśa 13. 151. 26, 2.


F. Epic events:

(1) Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) taught the four Vedas, and the Mahābhārata as the fifth, to his five pupils Sumantu, Jaimini, Paila, Vaiśaṁpāyana, and Śuka (his son) on Meru 12. 327. 16-18;

(2) Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked Saṁjaya to describe to him the northern and the eastern side of Meru (meror athottaraṁ pārśvaṁ pūrvaṁ cācakṣva saṁjaya) 6. 8. 1;

(3) On his way northwards to the Śveta mountain, Yudhiṣṭhira saw Meru and other mountains 3. 155. 14;

(4) Draupadī, while comforting Yudhiṣṭhira who was dejected, reminded him that he once ran over the Krauñcadvīpa with his daṇḍa (daṇḍena mṛditas tvayā) which lay to the west of Mahāmeru, so also the Śākadvīpa to the east of Mahāmeru, and Bhadrāśva to the north of Mahāmeru 12. 14. 22-24;

(5) Vyāsa, while practising austerities in order to obtain a son, recited Śivastava on Meru 13. 18. 2;

(6) The Pāṇḍavas, on their great journey (mahāprasthāna), saw Meru when they went beyond the Himavant 17. 2. 2.


G. Mythological and past events:

(1) God (Śiva) once sat on the summit of Meru (giritaṭe) in a paryaṅka posture (paryaṅka iva vibhrājann upaviṣṭo babhūva ha) 12. 274. 6;

(2) Formerly Mahādeva sported on the peak of Meru in the company of the Bhūtas (bhūtagaṇair vṛtaḥ) 12. 310. 11;

(3) Formerly Nārāyaṇa became the great sage Vaḍavāmukha; while practising austerities on Meru he invited the ocean, but it did not come 12. 329. 48 (2);

(4) When gods were afflicted by the food offered to them which was proper for manes (nivāpānna) they went to Pitāmaha on Meru 13. 92. 7;

(5) Bharadvāja asked Bhṛgu how Brahman created the creatures while sitting in the middle of Meru (merumadhye sthito brahmā) 12. 176. 1;

(6) Gods mounted the top of Meru and sat down to think of the way to obtain amṛta; there Nārāyaṇa told Brahman that gods and Asuras together should churn the Kalaśodadhi to get amṛta 1. 15. 9-13;

(7) Sixtysix thousand ṛṣis who follow Sūrya (sūryānugāmibhis tāta ṛṣibhiḥ) narrated the Pañcarātra doctrine (12. 326. 100) to gods who had assembled on Meru 12. 326. 109;

(8) Vindhya told the sun to go round it as it went round Meru 3. 102. 2;

(9) Dānava Hiraṇyakaśipu was able to shake Meru (hiraṇyakaśipur yo 'bhūd dānavo merukampanaḥ) 13. 14. 52;

(10) Mṛtyu, conceived as a woman, was reluctant to carry out the instruction of Brahman to destroy creatures; she went to Meru and stood there motionless like a log of wood for doing good to creatures (bhūtānāṁ hitakāmyayā) 12. 250. 22;

(11) Gaṅgā, unable to bear the embryo planted in her by Agni, cast it off on Meru 13. 84. 64;

(12) Meru was present at the consecration of Kumāra (Skanda) as the chief of the army of gods 9. 44. 13, 16; after the consecration, Meru gave his two followers (anucarau) Kāñcana and Hemamālin to Skanda; he also gave him Sthira and Atisthira 9. 44. 43-44;

(13) An ascetic named Suvarṇa and Manu sat together on a stoneslab on Meru and told each other stories of Brahmarṣis, gods and Daityas from the Purāṇas 13. 101. 6-7;

(13) A Brāhmaṇa Gautama offered to take king Dhṛtarāṣṭra (really Indra) to Meru, if he returned to the Brāhmaṇa his elephant; but the latter did not wish to go there 13. 105. 2021;

(14) Mahāmeru gave gold to (Pṛthu) Vainya when he was anointed king by Viṣṇu and others 12. 59. 122;

(15) King Marutta went to Meru and performed a sacrifice at the foot of the mountain; his sacrificial enclosure was close to the mountain (tasyaiva ca samīpe sa yajñavāṭo babhūva ha); for this sacrifice Marutta used utensils made of gold obtained from Meru 14. 4. 25-27;

(16) Ekata, Dvita and Trita told Bṛhaspati that the country where they practised austerities in order to see Nārāyaṇa lay to the north of Meru and on the shores of the ocean of milk 12. 323. 21;

(17) Rāma (Jāmadagnya ?) ordered the removal of his matted locks (?) at a place called Muñjavaṭa on Muñjapṛṣṭha on Meru (yatra muñjavaṭe rāmo jaṭāharaṇam ādiśat) 12. 122. 3;

(18) On the slope (pārśva) of Meru was the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha where he practised austerities 1. 93, 6-7; Vasiṣṭha, grieved over the death of his sons, jumped down from the summit of Meru to end his life (but he did not die) 1. 166. 41;

(19) The great sage Sthūlaśiras practised austerities on the northeastern side of Meru (prāguttare digbhāge) 12. 329. 47 (1);

(20) When Śuka was born, Gaṅgā came in her original form (svarūpiṇī) on the summit of Meru to bathe Śuka with her water 12. 311. 12;

(21) Śuka reached the Bhāratavarṣa after crossing the two Varṣas of Meru and Hari 12. 312. 14 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 325. 14: meror varṣaṁ ilāvṛtam/harer varṣaṁ harivarṣākhyam); when Śuka moved through the sky he saw before him the two summits of Meru and Himavant closely connected with each other; undeterred Śuka went on flying and suddenly the two peaks split into two; that was a marvel; Śuka passed beyond the two peaks and the mountain (Meru or Himavant ?) could not stop his movement; the mountain was split into two 12. 320. 8, 10-11, 13;

(22) In order to go to the Śvetadvīpa Nārada flew up in the sky and reached the top of Meru 12. 322. 6; after seeing Hari on the Śvetadvīpa, Nārada returned to Meru; from Meru Nārada proceeded to Gandhamādana and reached the Viśālā Badarī to see Nara and Nārāyaṇa 12. 331. 22; 12. 321. 13;

(23) Mārkaṇḍeya saw, among other mountains, Meru in the belly of the Bāla (3. 186. 83 = Nārāyaṇa 3. 187. 3) 3. 186. 103;

(24) When Gaṅgā fell down from heaven Śiva held the river on his head on Meru (or Himavant ?) and from there the river reached the earth (divaś cyutā śirasāttā bhavena gaṅgāvanīdhrāt) 13. 27. 89 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 13. 26. 89: avanīdhrasya meroḥ himavato vā parvatasya; on 13. 26. 90: avanīdhrāt pṛthivīṁ prāpnotīti śeṣaḥ).


H. Similes:

(1) Various warriors taking part in the battle compared with Meru: (a) Epic war: (i) Aśvatthāman showered (abhyavarṣat) arrows on Śaineya (Sātyaki) as a cloud showers rain on Meru 7. 141. 13; (ii) Aśvatthāman, showered with arrows by Añjanaparvan, grandson of Bhīma, was afflicted as is Meru by the showers of rain sent by the cloud 7. 131. 45; (iii) Eight sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra showered arrows on Abhimanyu as do clouds on Meru 6. 75. 25; (iv) Ghaṭotkaca showered arrows on Karṇa and others as a cloud showers rain on Meru 7. 149. 17; (v) Ghaṭotkaca covered (pracchādayām āsa) Bhagadatta with arrows as a cloud covers Meru 6. 79. 31; (vi) Aśvatthāman with Śikhaṇḍin's three arrows stuck on his forehead compared with Meru with its three high, golden summits 6. 78. 26; (vii) Arjuna with arrows, shot at him by Duḥśāsana, stuck on his forehead looked like Meru with its very high peaks 6. 106. 33; (viii) Arjuna was equal to Meru in steadiness (sthairyeṇa) 8. 48. 9; (ix) Bhīma was unshakable (acala) like Meru 6. 59. 8; 8. 31. 62; (x) Abhimanyu did not shake and remained steady like Meru when struck by five arrows of Durjaya and Vikarṇa 6. 74. 24; (xi) Jayadratha stood steadfast at the entrance of the Cakravyūha like Meru (śrīmān merur ivācalaḥ) 7. 33. 18; (xii) Arjuna, covered with gold on his golden chariot, shone like the blazing sun on Meru (sa rathe…kāñcane kāñcanāvṛtaḥ) 7. 60. 17; (xiii) Sātyaki with his golden bracelet (aṅgada), helmet (śirastrāṇa) and armour (varman) and golden shaft shone like the peak of Meru 7. 96. 4; (xiv) Bhīṣma with his raised silvery staff with five stars on it (ketunā pañcatāreṇa…rājatena) looked like Meru with moon on it (candramā iva meruṇā) 6. 44. 48 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 46. 50: atra candraketvor merusarathabhīṣmayoś copamo (? upamāno) pameyabhāvaḥ/ bhīṣmasya rukmarathatvāt); (xv) Arjuna was best among warriors as Meru is among the mountains 5. 63. 5; (b) Outside the epic war: (i) Rāma (Jāmadagnya) with blood issuing from the wounds all over his body appeared like Meru throwing out the red minerals (merur dhātūn ivotsṛjan) 5. 180. 30; (c) Other contexts: (i) Śiva's body, when he was dressed like a Kirāta which made him look like a golden tree, appeared like another Meru (kairātaṁ veṣam āsthāya kāñcanadrumasaṁnibham/vibhrājamāno vapuṣā girir merur ivāparaḥ//) 3. 40. 2; (ii) (Gāndhārī, Kuntī, and other) Kaurava women mounted the seats (in the arena) as the women of gods mount mountain Meru (āruruhur mañcān meruṁ devastriyo yathā) 1. 124. 14; (iii) Yājñasenī did not leave the Pāṇḍavas as the lustre of the sun does not leave Meru (meruṁ arkaprabhā yathā) 3. 80. 4; (iv) The Raivataka mountain, richly decorated for the festival and the Yādavas moving on it, looked like Meru with the hosts of sages on it 14. 58. 8; (v) Kṛṣṇa's chariot appeared like the summit of Meru (meruśikharaprakhyam) 5. 81. 21; (vi) Nārada told the huge Śālmali tree on the Himavant that since many birds, elephants, and other kinds of beasts resorted to it and since it offered shelter to travellers (sārthādhivāsaiś ca) it shone like Meru 12. 150. 17; (vii) A tree called Mahāśaṅkha at the Śaṅkhatīrtha was as tall as Mahāmeru 9. 36. 20 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 9. 37. 31: nagaṁ vṛkṣam); (viii) The burning Khāṇḍava forest looked like the highly lustrous, golden Meru 1. 216. 34 (also see the next section Idioms).


I. Idioms:

(1) For describing unexpected or impossible events: (i) Fall of Bhāradvāja (Droṇa) was like displacing Meru (viparyāsaṁ yathā meroḥ) 7. 165. 73; (ii) Dhṛtarāṣṭra could not bear the felling of Droṇa as he could not bear the shifting of Meru 7. 33. 18 (meror iva visarpaṇam) 7. 8. 12; (iii) Karṇa's death was as unbelievable and unexpected (aśraddheyam ivādbhutam) as is the tossing about (paryasanam) of Meru 8. 5. 3; (iv) In the opinion of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, wishing to conquer Droṇa in battle was as unheard of as wind uprooting Meru (na hi śuśruma vātena merum unmathitaṁ girim) 5. 158. 15; (v) also in his opinion if the Pāṇḍavas were to win the war it would be like wind blowing away Meru (anilo vā vahen merum) 5. 158. 16; (vi) in the opinion of Saṁjaya one may carry off Meru (api meruṁ vahet kaścit) but it would not be possible for any one to overpower the Vṛṣṇi heroes 7. 119. 27; (iii) Kṛṣṇa's out of place great delight (atiharṣo 'yam asthāne 7. 155. 6) and the lightness of his heart (tathaital lāghavam) over the death of Ghaṭotkaca was (as unbelievable) as the shifting of Meru (meror iva visarpaṇam) 7. 155. 10; (iv) Menakā told Indra that Viśvāmitra by his tapas could abbreviate Mahāmeru and quickly turn it around (saṁkṣipec ca mahāmeruṁ tūrṇam āvartayet tathā) 1. 65. 36 (Nī., who reads tūrṇam āvartayed diśaḥ, on Bom. Ed. 1. 71. 36: āvartayed ekīkuryāt); (v) Karṇa could split asunder even Meru (nirbhindyām…api merum) with his special arrow which he had reserved for Kṛṣṇa or Arjuna 8. 27. 59; (vi) Only a person who could transgress the lustre of Meru would (do such an unthinkable act as) killing one who had taken resort with him (…prabhāṁ meroḥ…etany atikramed yo vai sa hanyāc charaṇāgatam) 13. 98. 10;

(2) To express great difference: (i) According to Śakuntalā the difference between her and king Duḥṣanta was as great as between Meru and the mustard seed (āvayor antaraṁ paśya merusarṣapayor iva) 1. 69. 3; (ii) It may be possible to tell the number of all the jewels on Meru (meroḥ…sarvaratnaiḥ saṁkhyā…vaktum śakyam) but it was not possible to describe or measure the virtues of the Gaṅgā waters 13. 27. 97. [See Kanakaparvata ]


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Meru^2  : m.: Name of a mountain in the Śākadvīpa, also referred to as Mahāmeru (6. 12. 23).

One of the seven mountains of the Śākadvīpa 6. 12. 13; described as great (parama) and resorted to by gods, sages and Gandharvas (devarṣigandharvayutaḥ) 6. 12. 14; all the seven mountains of the Śākadvīpa are adorned with gems (maṇibhūṣitāḥ) and are mines of jewels (ratnākarāḥ) 6. 12. 13; the Varṣa of Mahāmeru is called Mahākāṣa 6. 12. 23; the extent of these seven mountains doubles as one proceeds from one to the other (teṣāṁ yojanaviṣkambho dviguṇaḥ pravibhāgaśaḥ) 6. 12. 22.


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Mahabharata Cultural Index

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

Meru^1  : m.: Name of a mountain, also referred to as Mahāmeru (1. 65. 36; 3. 160. 12, 14, 28; 9. 36. 20; 12. 14. 22-24; 12. 59. 122; 12. 321. 13; 13. 14. 156; 14. 44. 12).


A. Location: In the Svarloka (upariṣṭād asau loko yo 'yaṁ svar iti saṁjñitaḥ/…meruḥ parvatarāḍ yatra) 3. 247. 2, 8; in the north (udīcīṁ dīpayann eṣa diśaṁ tiṣṭhati kīrtiṁān/mahāmeruḥ) 3. 160. 12; 3. 155. 13-14; 12. 320. 9; 17. 2. 2; on the summit of the mountain Himavant (śṛṅge himavato merau) 12. 122. 3; on the northern side of the Himavant (himavatpārśva uttare) 14. 4. 25; beyond the Himavant 17. 2. 2; between the Mālyavant lying to its east and the Gandhamādana lying to its west lies the circular mountain Meru 6. 7. 8 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 9: nīlaniṣadhayor madhye merus tasya prāk mālyavān pūrvasamudrāvadhiḥ paścimasamudrāvadhir gandhamādana ity arthaḥ); Śuka after crossing the Varṣas of Meru and Hari (i. e. the Ilāvṛta and the Harivarṣa Varṣas) and that of Himavant (called Kiṁpuruṣa) reached the Bhāratavarṣa (meror hareś ca dve varṣe varṣaṁ haimavataṁ tathā/krameṇaiva vyatikramya bhārataṁ varṣam āsadat) 12. 312. 14 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 325. 14: meror varṣaṁ ilāvṛtam/ harer varṣaṁ harivarṣākhyam/haimavataṁ varṣaṁ kiṁpuruṣākhyam); to the north of Meru is the Kṣīroda (milky ocean) (meror uttarabhāge tu kṣīrodasyānukūlataḥ) 12. 323. 21; from the summit of the Meru one can see in the north-west Śvetadvīpa to the north of the Kṣīrodadhi (ālokayann uttarapaścimena dadarśa…kṣīrodadher uttarato hi dvīpaḥ śvetaḥ sa nāmnā prathitaḥ) 12. 322. 7-8; the Śvetadvīpa was at a distance of 32000 yojanas in the north from the foot of the mount Meru (meroḥ sahasraiḥ sa hi yojanānāṁ dvātriṁśatordhvaṁ kavibhir niruktaḥ) 12. 322. 8 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 335. 9: merumūlāt dvātriṁśatsahasrayojanād ūrdhvam); on its four sides (tasya pārśve) are the four Dvīpas, viz. the Bhadrāśva, the Ketumāla, the Jambūdvīpa and the Uttara Kurus 6. 7. 11; to the north of the Mahāmeru is the Bhadrāśva 12. 14. 24; to the east of the Mahāmeru is the Śākadvīpa 12. 14. 23; to the west of the Mahāmeru is the Krauñcadvīpa 12. 14. 22; on the western side of the Meru is the Ketumāla, to the south of the Nīla and to the north of the Meru are the Uttara Kurus, and to the east of the Meru is the Bhadrāśva 6. 7. 29; 6. 8. 2, 13; the river Śailodā flows between the Meru and the Mandara 2. 48. 2.


B. Extent: Its extent is thirty three thousand yojanas (trayastriṁśat sahasrāṇi yojanānām…meruḥ) 3. 247. 8; it is sixteen thousand yojanas deep and eighty four (thousand) yojanas high; it covers the worlds above, within and crosswise (yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi ṣoḍaśādhaḥ kila smṛtaḥ// uccaiś ca caturāśītir yojanānāṁ mahīpate/ ūrdhvam antaś ca tiryak ca lokān āvṛtya tiṣṭhati//) 6. 7. 9-10 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 11: adhastāt bhūmer garbhe); its peak was a hundred yojanas high crosswise and above (śatayojanavistāre tiryag ūrdhvam ca… saṁdadarśa ha) 12. 320. 9.


C. Description: Auspicious (śiva) 3. 160. 12, 14; big (mahāgiri) 1. 15. 7; 8. 27, 59; (mahāśaila) 3. 102. 2; 17. 2. 2; rising up to the sky (gaganam ucchritaḥ) 12. 175. 37; nākam āvṛtya tiṣṭhantam ucchrayeṇa) 1. 15. 7; having many peaks (anekaśṛṅgavant) 9. 44. 13; king of mountains (parvatarāṭ) 3. 247. 8; (adrirāja) 3. 102. 2; (nagendra) 1. 93. 6; 1. 216. 34; excellent among the mountains (śikhariṇām varam) 17. 2. 2; (śreṣṭhaṁ śikhariṇāṁ) 5. 63. 5; (girivara) 12. 327. 18; 13. 84. 64; (parvatottama) 12. 320. 11 (said of Meru or Himavant ?); its peak (uttama) 3. 160. 16; no other mountain is as excellent as Meru (anuttama) 1. 15. 5; its top (pṛṣṭha) is elevated for many kalpas (?) (anekakalpam udviddham) 1. 15. 9 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 1. 17. 9: anantakalpaṁ ananto viṣṇur ākāśo vā tata īṣan nyūnam/bahuguṇatvād atipramāṇatvāc ca/īṣad asamāptau kalpap/udviddham uccam/); its summits rise high (śikharaiḥ…ucchritaiḥ) 6. 78. 26; very high (śṛṅgair atyartham ucchritaiḥ) 6. 106. 33; circular (parimaṇḍala) 6. 7. 8; steady, unshakable (acala) 1. 15. 5; 6. 59. 8; 6. 74. 24; 7. 33. 18; (7. 149. 17); 8. 31. 62; firm (sthairyeṇa meroḥ) 8. 48. 9; its peak (śṛṅga) unequalled (apratima) 12. 320. 8; immeasurable, immeasurable in all the worlds (aprameya) 1. 15. 6; (aprameyaṁ… sarvalokeṣu) 12. 274. 5; unassailable in all the worlds (anādhṛṣyaṁ sarvalokeṣu) 12. 274. 5; unassailable by impious persons (anādhṛṣyam adharmabahulair janaiḥ) 1. 15. 6; inaccessible to ordinary people even in thought (agamyaṁ manasāpy anyaiḥ) 1. 15. 8 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 1. 17. 8: agamyaṁ aprāpyam anyaiḥ prākṛtaiḥ); its region (deśa) free from dust (virajas) 3. 160. 16; free from diseases (anāmaya) 3. 160. 14; famous (kīrtimant) 3. 160. 12; has many peaks (aṅekaśṛṅgavant) 9. 44. 13; golden mountain (kanakaparvata) 3. 102. 2; 3. 186. 103; 6. 7. 8; 12. 59. 122; 12. 122. 3; (kāñcanaparvata) 13. 101. 6; (hiraṇmaya) 3. 247. 8; (kāñcana) 1. 216. 34; (7. 60. 17); it has gold as its ornament (kāñcanābharaṇa) 1. 15. 6; its peak (śṛṅga) is golden (rukmamaya) 12. 320. 8; it excels with its peaks, shining with gold, the lustre of the sun (ākṣipantaṁ prabhāṁ bhānoḥ svaśṛṅgaiḥ kāñcanojjvalaiḥ) 1. 15. 5; (śikharaiḥ kāñcanamayaiḥ) 6. 78. 26; (7. 96. 4); its foot (pāda) is golden (kāñcana) 14. 4. 25; its slopes (giritaṭa) are ornamented with gold (hemadhātuvibhūṣita) 12. 274. 6; it is covered all over with splendid, golden houses (bhavanair āvṛtaḥ sarvair jāmbūnadamayaiḥ śubhaiḥ) 6. 7. 15; its surface (pṛṣṭha) is full of many jewels (bahuratnācita) 1. 15. 9; its peak (śṛṅga) is adorned with all kinds of jewels (sarvaratnavibhūṣita) 12. 274. 5; very large number of jewels on Meru alluded to in 13. 27. 97; it is a mass of lustre (tejorāśi) 1. 15. 5; burning (jvalant) 1. 15. 5; lustrous (śrīmant) 7. 33. 18; of great lustre (mahādyuti) 1. 216. 34; it is illuminated with heavenly herbs (divyauṣadhividīpita) 1. 15. 7; it is yellow (pīta) 12. 320. 8; its peaks (śṛṅga) and tops (pṛṣṭha) are shining (śubha) 12. 320. 8-9; 1. 15. 9; its peak (śṛṅga) is heavenly (divya) and splendid (rucira) 12. 320. 8; highly lustrous (mahādyuti) 1. 216. 34; it is very lustrous all around like the sun and like smokeless fire (ādityataruṇābhāso vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ) 6. 7. 9; it brightens the north (udīcīṁ dīpayann eṣa diśaṁ tiṣṭhati) 3. 160. 12; lustrous (citra) 1. 15. 6; Meru looked upon as an excellent crest of the earth (pṛthivīm…meruvarottaṁsām) 1. 159. 20; Meru and Mandara are the two ornaments of the earth (merumandarabhūṣaṇām…vasuṁdharām) 3. 187. 10; pleasing (ramya) 12. 327. 18; the forest on it is pleasing (ramya), full of flowers (supuṣpita) and agreeable due to the singing of the Kinnaras (kinnaragītajuṣṭa) 13. 105. 20; its peak (śṛṅga) has forests of Karṇikāra trees (karṇikāravanāyuta) 12. 310. 11; on the northern side of the mountain is a forest of the Karṇikāra trees which is heavenly, auspicious, pleasing, flowering in all seasons and which has grown out of the crevices in its slabs (pārśve tasyottare divyaṁ sarvartukusumaṁ śivam/karṇikāravanaṁ ramyaṁ śilājālasamudgatam//) 6. 7. 22; the mountain has many rivers and forests (nadīvṛkṣasamanvita) 1. 15. 8; full of heavenly flowers and fruits (divyapuṣpaphalānvita) 6. 7. 15; resounding with the sounds of various, attractive birds (nānāpatagasaṁghaiś ca nāditaṁ sumanoharaiḥ) 1. 15. 8; resorted to by gods and the Gandharvas (devagandharvasevita) 1. 15. 6; also by the Siddhas and the Cāraṇas (siddhacāraṇasevita) 12. 327. 18; haunted by fierce beasts of prey (vyālair ācaritaṁ ghoraiḥ) 1. 15. 7; also see the next section


C. Characteristics and the entry Jyotiṣka: the peak on mountain Meru.


C. Characteristics:

(1) Lustre is the chief characteristic of Meru (prabhāṁ meroḥ) 13. 98. 10;

(2) Aśvatthāman had the gaurava (respectability, respy. heaviness) of Meru (merugauravam) 9. 5. 8;

(3) Kaṇiṅka (Bharadvāja) told king Śatruṁtapa that one should adopt what is best in Meru, i. e. its best characteristics (meroḥ…yac chreṣṭhaṁ tat samācaret) 12. 138. 21 (according to Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 140. 21 these are acañcalatvam anullaṅghanīyatvaṁ; according to Arjunamiśra sarvoccaprakṛtitvaṁ; according to Vimalabodha koṣabahulatvaṁ sarvoccaprakṛtitvaṁ ca; see Editor's notes, Cr. Ed. Vol. 14, p. 936);

(4) Prajāpati dwells in his residence (brahmasadas) on the Mahāmeru while creating the worlds; he dwells there with gods 3. 160. 13, 16; on the summit of Meru there is the abode (sadana) of Svayaṁbhū (Brahmadeva) 13. 92. 7; Meru forms the pericarp of the lotus (i. e. the earth) (karṇikā tasya padmasya meruḥ); sitting on it Brahman creates the world 12. 175. 37;

(5) The seven mindborn sons of Brahman, Dakṣa and others, also live on the Mahāmeru 3. 160. 14;

(6) beyond the residence (sadana) of Brahman on the Meru shines the highest place (paraṁ sthānam) of Nārāyaṇa 3. 160. 17-18;

(7) There god Paśupati (Śiva) himself sports with Umā and other divine beings (divyair bhūtaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ) wearing a garland of Karṇikāra flowers reaching down up to his feet and illuminating the surroundings on the mountain with his three eyes; the Siddhas there can see him 6. 7. 23-24;

(8) The seven high-souled sages and Kaśyapa Prajāpati visit the mountain on every parvan day 6. 7. 19;

(9) On the top of Meru, Uśanas Kāvya sports with the Daityas (tasyaiva mūrdhany uśanāḥ kāvyo daityaiḥ…) 6. 7. 20 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 22: ramata iti śeṣaḥ);

(10) The gods have their gardens there (yatra devodyānāni) 3. 247. 8; there the hosts of gods, the Gandharvas, the Asuras and the Rākṣasas always sport in the company of the Apsarases 6. 7. 16;

(11) There Brahman, Rudra and Śakra, the king of gods, come together and offer various sacrifices giving many dakṣiṇās (sametya vividhair yajñair yajante 'nekadakṣiṇaiḥ) 6. 7. 17;

(12) All the jewels and the six jewelled mountains (ṣaḍ ete ratnaparvatāḥ 6. 7. 2) belong to Meru (tasya hīmāni ratnāni tasyeme ratnaparvatāḥ) 6. 7. 20 (Nī., however, on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 22: tasya kāvyasya); from it Kubera gets one fourth share and from what he has obtained he gives to men a portion of its sixteenth part (tasmāt kubero bhagavāṁś caturthaṁ bhāgam aśnute/tataḥ kalāṁśaṁ vittasya manuṣyebhyaḥ prayacchati//) 6. 7. 21 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 6. 23: kalāṁśaṁ ṣoḍaśabhāgasyāpi leśam);

(13) Tumburu, Nārada, Viśvāvasu, Hahā, Huhū and the foremost among gods gather together and praise (mount Meru) with praises 6. 7. 18;

(14) The sun (āditya) drags behind him all the luminaries and going round Meru, keeping it to the right, he dispels darkness (etaṁ jyotīṁṣi sarvāṇi prakarṣan bhagavān api/kurute vitamaskarmā ādityo 'bhipradakṣiṇam) 3. 160. 24; the sun goes to the Asta mountain and, passing the twilight there (saṁdhyām atikramya) he goes to the north; again continuing his journey along Meru (sa merum anuvṛttaḥ san) the sun goes eastwards 3. 160. 25-26; 3. 102. 2-3; this path of the sun is unhindered (mārgam etad asambādham ādityaḥ parivartate) 3. 160. 29; this route of the sun round Meru was ordained by the Creator of the world (eṣa mārgaḥ pradiṣṭo me yenedaṁ nirmitaṁ jagat) 3. 102. 4; similarly the moon, along with the nakṣatras, moves round Meru dividing the duration of the month into parvans and returns to Mandara (sa māsaṁ vibhajan kālaṁ bahudhā parvasaṁdhiṣu/ tathaiva bhagavān somo nakṣatraiḥ saha gacchati//) 3. 160. 27-28; besides the sun, the moon and the nakṣatras, Vāyu also moves round Meru keeping it to the right (anuparyeti…vāyuś caiva pradakṣiṇam) 6. 7. 14;

(15) The seven divine sages (devarṣayaḥ), chief among whom is Vasiṣṭha, also set on this mountain and again rise there (atraiva pratitiṣṭhanti punar atrodayanti ca) 3. 160. 15;

(16) All birds on mount Meru are golden (sauvarṇān prekṣya vāyasān) 6. 7. 12; seeing them the bird Sumukha, son of Suparṇa, thought of leaving mount Meru since it made no distinction between the best, the intermediate, and the lowest (merur uttamamadhyānām adhamānāṁ ca pakṣiṇām/aviśeṣakaro yasmāt tasmād enaṁ tyajāmy aham//) 6. 7. 13;

(17) There is a large, good-looking (sudarśana 13. 105. 20) Jambū tree called Sudarśana (sudarśano nāma) on mount Meru 6. 8. 18; the river formed by the juice of the fruit of this tree flows round Meru and goes to the Uttara Kurus (meruṁ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā saṁprayāty uttarān kurūn) 6. 8. 23;

(18) From the summit of mount Meru the river Gaṅgā Bhāgīrathī falls down with terrific speed in the Cāndramasa lake 6. 7. 26-27;

(19) Various tribes like the Khaśas, the Ekāśanājyohas (?), the Pradaras, the Dīrghaveṇus, the Paśupas, the Kuṇindas, the Taṅgaṇas, and the Parataṅgaṇas live in the valley of the mountains Meru and Mandara (merumandarayor madhye) 2. 48. 2-3;

(20) Swans and vultures go to Meru by passing through a hole in the Krauñca mountain made by Skanda 3. 214. 31.


D. Holiness: One who falls down along the preciplce of Meru is freed of all blemishes (meruprapātaṁ prapatan…mucyate sarvakilbiśaiḥ) 12. 36. 14; Brāhmaṇas who are truthful, learned, kind to all beings, who study the Itihāsa and the Purāṇa, who offer honey offerings to Brāhmaṇas (madhvāhutyā juhvati ca dvijebhyaḥ) go to the regions of Meru 13. 105. 21-22.


E. Importance:

(1) While narrating his vibhūtis Bhagavān told Arjuna that he was Meru among the mountains (meruḥ śikhariṇām aham) 6. 32. 23;

(2) Meru is the ultimate place where the knowers of Brahman go (brahmavidāṁ gatiḥ) 3. 160. 12;

(3) Śiva is the Mahāmeru among mountains (parvatānāṁ mahāmeruḥ) 13. 14. 156;

(4) Mahāmeru was the first to be created among all the mountains (parvatānāṁ mahāmeruḥ sarveṣām agrajaḥ smṛtaḥ) 14. 44. 12;

(5) When Śiva appointed some one in each class as its head he made Meru the chief of the mountains (parvatāṇāṁ patim) 12. 122. 28;

(6) Finds mention in the Daivata-ṚṣiVaṁśa 13. 151. 26, 2.


F. Epic events:

(1) Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) taught the four Vedas, and the Mahābhārata as the fifth, to his five pupils Sumantu, Jaimini, Paila, Vaiśaṁpāyana, and Śuka (his son) on Meru 12. 327. 16-18;

(2) Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked Saṁjaya to describe to him the northern and the eastern side of Meru (meror athottaraṁ pārśvaṁ pūrvaṁ cācakṣva saṁjaya) 6. 8. 1;

(3) On his way northwards to the Śveta mountain, Yudhiṣṭhira saw Meru and other mountains 3. 155. 14;

(4) Draupadī, while comforting Yudhiṣṭhira who was dejected, reminded him that he once ran over the Krauñcadvīpa with his daṇḍa (daṇḍena mṛditas tvayā) which lay to the west of Mahāmeru, so also the Śākadvīpa to the east of Mahāmeru, and Bhadrāśva to the north of Mahāmeru 12. 14. 22-24;

(5) Vyāsa, while practising austerities in order to obtain a son, recited Śivastava on Meru 13. 18. 2;

(6) The Pāṇḍavas, on their great journey (mahāprasthāna), saw Meru when they went beyond the Himavant 17. 2. 2.


G. Mythological and past events:

(1) God (Śiva) once sat on the summit of Meru (giritaṭe) in a paryaṅka posture (paryaṅka iva vibhrājann upaviṣṭo babhūva ha) 12. 274. 6;

(2) Formerly Mahādeva sported on the peak of Meru in the company of the Bhūtas (bhūtagaṇair vṛtaḥ) 12. 310. 11;

(3) Formerly Nārāyaṇa became the great sage Vaḍavāmukha; while practising austerities on Meru he invited the ocean, but it did not come 12. 329. 48 (2);

(4) When gods were afflicted by the food offered to them which was proper for manes (nivāpānna) they went to Pitāmaha on Meru 13. 92. 7;

(5) Bharadvāja asked Bhṛgu how Brahman created the creatures while sitting in the middle of Meru (merumadhye sthito brahmā) 12. 176. 1;

(6) Gods mounted the top of Meru and sat down to think of the way to obtain amṛta; there Nārāyaṇa told Brahman that gods and Asuras together should churn the Kalaśodadhi to get amṛta 1. 15. 9-13;

(7) Sixtysix thousand ṛṣis who follow Sūrya (sūryānugāmibhis tāta ṛṣibhiḥ) narrated the Pañcarātra doctrine (12. 326. 100) to gods who had assembled on Meru 12. 326. 109;

(8) Vindhya told the sun to go round it as it went round Meru 3. 102. 2;

(9) Dānava Hiraṇyakaśipu was able to shake Meru (hiraṇyakaśipur yo 'bhūd dānavo merukampanaḥ) 13. 14. 52;

(10) Mṛtyu, conceived as a woman, was reluctant to carry out the instruction of Brahman to destroy creatures; she went to Meru and stood there motionless like a log of wood for doing good to creatures (bhūtānāṁ hitakāmyayā) 12. 250. 22;

(11) Gaṅgā, unable to bear the embryo planted in her by Agni, cast it off on Meru 13. 84. 64;

(12) Meru was present at the consecration of Kumāra (Skanda) as the chief of the army of gods 9. 44. 13, 16; after the consecration, Meru gave his two followers (anucarau) Kāñcana and Hemamālin to Skanda; he also gave him Sthira and Atisthira 9. 44. 43-44;

(13) An ascetic named Suvarṇa and Manu sat together on a stoneslab on Meru and told each other stories of Brahmarṣis, gods and Daityas from the Purāṇas 13. 101. 6-7;

(13) A Brāhmaṇa Gautama offered to take king Dhṛtarāṣṭra (really Indra) to Meru, if he returned to the Brāhmaṇa his elephant; but the latter did not wish to go there 13. 105. 2021;

(14) Mahāmeru gave gold to (Pṛthu) Vainya when he was anointed king by Viṣṇu and others 12. 59. 122;

(15) King Marutta went to Meru and performed a sacrifice at the foot of the mountain; his sacrificial enclosure was close to the mountain (tasyaiva ca samīpe sa yajñavāṭo babhūva ha); for this sacrifice Marutta used utensils made of gold obtained from Meru 14. 4. 25-27;

(16) Ekata, Dvita and Trita told Bṛhaspati that the country where they practised austerities in order to see Nārāyaṇa lay to the north of Meru and on the shores of the ocean of milk 12. 323. 21;

(17) Rāma (Jāmadagnya ?) ordered the removal of his matted locks (?) at a place called Muñjavaṭa on Muñjapṛṣṭha on Meru (yatra muñjavaṭe rāmo jaṭāharaṇam ādiśat) 12. 122. 3;

(18) On the slope (pārśva) of Meru was the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha where he practised austerities 1. 93, 6-7; Vasiṣṭha, grieved over the death of his sons, jumped down from the summit of Meru to end his life (but he did not die) 1. 166. 41;

(19) The great sage Sthūlaśiras practised austerities on the northeastern side of Meru (prāguttare digbhāge) 12. 329. 47 (1);

(20) When Śuka was born, Gaṅgā came in her original form (svarūpiṇī) on the summit of Meru to bathe Śuka with her water 12. 311. 12;

(21) Śuka reached the Bhāratavarṣa after crossing the two Varṣas of Meru and Hari 12. 312. 14 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 325. 14: meror varṣaṁ ilāvṛtam/harer varṣaṁ harivarṣākhyam); when Śuka moved through the sky he saw before him the two summits of Meru and Himavant closely connected with each other; undeterred Śuka went on flying and suddenly the two peaks split into two; that was a marvel; Śuka passed beyond the two peaks and the mountain (Meru or Himavant ?) could not stop his movement; the mountain was split into two 12. 320. 8, 10-11, 13;

(22) In order to go to the Śvetadvīpa Nārada flew up in the sky and reached the top of Meru 12. 322. 6; after seeing Hari on the Śvetadvīpa, Nārada returned to Meru; from Meru Nārada proceeded to Gandhamādana and reached the Viśālā Badarī to see Nara and Nārāyaṇa 12. 331. 22; 12. 321. 13;

(23) Mārkaṇḍeya saw, among other mountains, Meru in the belly of the Bāla (3. 186. 83 = Nārāyaṇa 3. 187. 3) 3. 186. 103;

(24) When Gaṅgā fell down from heaven Śiva held the river on his head on Meru (or Himavant ?) and from there the river reached the earth (divaś cyutā śirasāttā bhavena gaṅgāvanīdhrāt) 13. 27. 89 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 13. 26. 89: avanīdhrasya meroḥ himavato vā parvatasya; on 13. 26. 90: avanīdhrāt pṛthivīṁ prāpnotīti śeṣaḥ).


H. Similes:

(1) Various warriors taking part in the battle compared with Meru: (a) Epic war: (i) Aśvatthāman showered (abhyavarṣat) arrows on Śaineya (Sātyaki) as a cloud showers rain on Meru 7. 141. 13; (ii) Aśvatthāman, showered with arrows by Añjanaparvan, grandson of Bhīma, was afflicted as is Meru by the showers of rain sent by the cloud 7. 131. 45; (iii) Eight sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra showered arrows on Abhimanyu as do clouds on Meru 6. 75. 25; (iv) Ghaṭotkaca showered arrows on Karṇa and others as a cloud showers rain on Meru 7. 149. 17; (v) Ghaṭotkaca covered (pracchādayām āsa) Bhagadatta with arrows as a cloud covers Meru 6. 79. 31; (vi) Aśvatthāman with Śikhaṇḍin's three arrows stuck on his forehead compared with Meru with its three high, golden summits 6. 78. 26; (vii) Arjuna with arrows, shot at him by Duḥśāsana, stuck on his forehead looked like Meru with its very high peaks 6. 106. 33; (viii) Arjuna was equal to Meru in steadiness (sthairyeṇa) 8. 48. 9; (ix) Bhīma was unshakable (acala) like Meru 6. 59. 8; 8. 31. 62; (x) Abhimanyu did not shake and remained steady like Meru when struck by five arrows of Durjaya and Vikarṇa 6. 74. 24; (xi) Jayadratha stood steadfast at the entrance of the Cakravyūha like Meru (śrīmān merur ivācalaḥ) 7. 33. 18; (xii) Arjuna, covered with gold on his golden chariot, shone like the blazing sun on Meru (sa rathe…kāñcane kāñcanāvṛtaḥ) 7. 60. 17; (xiii) Sātyaki with his golden bracelet (aṅgada), helmet (śirastrāṇa) and armour (varman) and golden shaft shone like the peak of Meru 7. 96. 4; (xiv) Bhīṣma with his raised silvery staff with five stars on it (ketunā pañcatāreṇa…rājatena) looked like Meru with moon on it (candramā iva meruṇā) 6. 44. 48 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 6. 46. 50: atra candraketvor merusarathabhīṣmayoś copamo (? upamāno) pameyabhāvaḥ/ bhīṣmasya rukmarathatvāt); (xv) Arjuna was best among warriors as Meru is among the mountains 5. 63. 5; (b) Outside the epic war: (i) Rāma (Jāmadagnya) with blood issuing from the wounds all over his body appeared like Meru throwing out the red minerals (merur dhātūn ivotsṛjan) 5. 180. 30; (c) Other contexts: (i) Śiva's body, when he was dressed like a Kirāta which made him look like a golden tree, appeared like another Meru (kairātaṁ veṣam āsthāya kāñcanadrumasaṁnibham/vibhrājamāno vapuṣā girir merur ivāparaḥ//) 3. 40. 2; (ii) (Gāndhārī, Kuntī, and other) Kaurava women mounted the seats (in the arena) as the women of gods mount mountain Meru (āruruhur mañcān meruṁ devastriyo yathā) 1. 124. 14; (iii) Yājñasenī did not leave the Pāṇḍavas as the lustre of the sun does not leave Meru (meruṁ arkaprabhā yathā) 3. 80. 4; (iv) The Raivataka mountain, richly decorated for the festival and the Yādavas moving on it, looked like Meru with the hosts of sages on it 14. 58. 8; (v) Kṛṣṇa's chariot appeared like the summit of Meru (meruśikharaprakhyam) 5. 81. 21; (vi) Nārada told the huge Śālmali tree on the Himavant that since many birds, elephants, and other kinds of beasts resorted to it and since it offered shelter to travellers (sārthādhivāsaiś ca) it shone like Meru 12. 150. 17; (vii) A tree called Mahāśaṅkha at the Śaṅkhatīrtha was as tall as Mahāmeru 9. 36. 20 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 9. 37. 31: nagaṁ vṛkṣam); (viii) The burning Khāṇḍava forest looked like the highly lustrous, golden Meru 1. 216. 34 (also see the next section Idioms).


I. Idioms:

(1) For describing unexpected or impossible events: (i) Fall of Bhāradvāja (Droṇa) was like displacing Meru (viparyāsaṁ yathā meroḥ) 7. 165. 73; (ii) Dhṛtarāṣṭra could not bear the felling of Droṇa as he could not bear the shifting of Meru 7. 33. 18 (meror iva visarpaṇam) 7. 8. 12; (iii) Karṇa's death was as unbelievable and unexpected (aśraddheyam ivādbhutam) as is the tossing about (paryasanam) of Meru 8. 5. 3; (iv) In the opinion of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, wishing to conquer Droṇa in battle was as unheard of as wind uprooting Meru (na hi śuśruma vātena merum unmathitaṁ girim) 5. 158. 15; (v) also in his opinion if the Pāṇḍavas were to win the war it would be like wind blowing away Meru (anilo vā vahen merum) 5. 158. 16; (vi) in the opinion of Saṁjaya one may carry off Meru (api meruṁ vahet kaścit) but it would not be possible for any one to overpower the Vṛṣṇi heroes 7. 119. 27; (iii) Kṛṣṇa's out of place great delight (atiharṣo 'yam asthāne 7. 155. 6) and the lightness of his heart (tathaital lāghavam) over the death of Ghaṭotkaca was (as unbelievable) as the shifting of Meru (meror iva visarpaṇam) 7. 155. 10; (iv) Menakā told Indra that Viśvāmitra by his tapas could abbreviate Mahāmeru and quickly turn it around (saṁkṣipec ca mahāmeruṁ tūrṇam āvartayet tathā) 1. 65. 36 (Nī., who reads tūrṇam āvartayed diśaḥ, on Bom. Ed. 1. 71. 36: āvartayed ekīkuryāt); (v) Karṇa could split asunder even Meru (nirbhindyām…api merum) with his special arrow which he had reserved for Kṛṣṇa or Arjuna 8. 27. 59; (vi) Only a person who could transgress the lustre of Meru would (do such an unthinkable act as) killing one who had taken resort with him (…prabhāṁ meroḥ…etany atikramed yo vai sa hanyāc charaṇāgatam) 13. 98. 10;

(2) To express great difference: (i) According to Śakuntalā the difference between her and king Duḥṣanta was as great as between Meru and the mustard seed (āvayor antaraṁ paśya merusarṣapayor iva) 1. 69. 3; (ii) It may be possible to tell the number of all the jewels on Meru (meroḥ…sarvaratnaiḥ saṁkhyā…vaktum śakyam) but it was not possible to describe or measure the virtues of the Gaṅgā waters 13. 27. 97. [See Kanakaparvata ]


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Meru^2  : m.: Name of a mountain in the Śākadvīpa, also referred to as Mahāmeru (6. 12. 23).

One of the seven mountains of the Śākadvīpa 6. 12. 13; described as great (parama) and resorted to by gods, sages and Gandharvas (devarṣigandharvayutaḥ) 6. 12. 14; all the seven mountains of the Śākadvīpa are adorned with gems (maṇibhūṣitāḥ) and are mines of jewels (ratnākarāḥ) 6. 12. 13; the Varṣa of Mahāmeru is called Mahākāṣa 6. 12. 23; the extent of these seven mountains doubles as one proceeds from one to the other (teṣāṁ yojanaviṣkambho dviguṇaḥ pravibhāgaśaḥ) 6. 12. 22.


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