Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 74, Shloka 47

Adhyaya 74 — King Svarashtra, the Deer-Queen’s Curse, and the Rise of Tamasa Manu

Sanskrit

ततस्तस्यर्षयः सर्वे समेत्य मुनिसत्तम ।

अवेक्ष्य भाविनीमृद्धिं नाम चक्रुर्महात्मनः ॥

Transliteration

tatas tasyarṣayaḥ sarve sametya muni-sattama / avekṣya bhāvinīm ṛddhiṃ nāma cakrur mahātmanaḥ

Translation

তখন, হে মুনিশ্রেষ্ঠ, সকল ঋষি সমবেত হলেন; ভবিষ্যৎ সমৃদ্ধি দেখে তাঁরা সেই মহাত্মাকে একটি নাম প্রদান করলেন।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anubandha (काल/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमबोधक (then/thereupon)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् to 'ṛṣayaḥ'

• sametya: having assembled
• sametya: Kriyā-pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-√i (धातु) + sametya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (prior action): 'having assembled/come together'

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'munīnām sattamaḥ' (best of sages); सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative form used as address), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• avekṣya: having observed
• avekṣya: Kriyā-pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु) + avekṣya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund); 'having observed/considered'

• bhāvinīm: future, forthcoming
• bhāvinīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to 'ṛddhim'

• ṛddhim: prosperity, greatness
• ṛddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nāma: a name
• nāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'name' as object of 'cakruḥ' (to make/give a name)

• cakruḥ: they made, they gave
• cakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled (one)
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: 'mahān ātmā yasya' (great-souled); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya narrating; addressing a ‘munisattama’ in the larger frame

Key Themes

• Rishi authority
• Nāmakaraṇa (naming) as recognition of destiny
• Prophetic insight

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The sages represent discerning tradition: they recognize potential and align social identity (name) with dharmic destiny, emphasizing guidance by wisdom rather than impulse.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vamśānucarita: a standard dynastic motif where sages legitimize and interpret the significance of a birth within the unfolding lineage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Naming is portrayed as a performative act: speech (vāc) crystallizes destiny by assigning a defining vibration/identity to the emerging ruler-principle.