Shloka 22

Adhyaya 46 — Cosmic Dissolution, the Emergence of Brahma, and the Measures of Time (Yugas, Manvantaras, and Brahma’s Day)

Sanskrit

तस्य वर्षशतं त्वेकं परमायुर्महात्मनः ।

ब्रह्म्येणैव हि मानेन तस्य संख्यां निबोध मे ॥

Transliteration

tasya varṣaśataṃ tv ekaṃ paramāyur mahātmanaḥ | brahmyeṇaiva hi mānena tasya saṃkhyāṃ nibodha me ||

Translation

إنَّ عمرَه الأسمى مئةُ سنة، وذلك يُحسَبُ على معيار القياس عند براهما. فتعلَّمْ مني حسابَ ذلك المقياس.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव (pronoun)

• वर्ष-शतम्: a hundred years
• वर्ष-शतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (contrast/emphasis)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• परम्: supreme/utmost
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म्येण: by the Brahmā-based/divine
• ब्रह्म्येण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'māna')

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• मानेन: by a measure/standard
• मानेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संख्याम्: the number
• संख्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• निबोध: understand/learn
• निबोध: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: from me/to me
• मे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular; enclitic)

Speakers

• Frame-dialogue context not explicit in these verses; section is didactic narration on kāla (time-reckoning).

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Brahmā (implied)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Kāla (Time)
• Puranic chronology

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Human measures are inadequate for cosmic realities; the Purāṇa shifts the listener from ordinary time to a divine/cosmic scale, encouraging humility and a long-view of dharma across ages.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vaṃśānucarita/Manvantara-style chronology and cosmic time-reckoning used to situate sarga/pratisarga narratives; it functions as a calendrical scaffold for Purāṇic history.

What is the esoteric significance?

“Brahmā’s measure” signifies a higher order of perception: time expands with consciousness-level; the verse prepares the mind to contemplate vast cycles (yugas) beyond personal lifespan.