Shloka 44

Yoga-Sleep, Cosmic Dissolution, and the Lotus of Creation

with Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vision

Devanagari script

शरीरनिर्वृतिं दृष्ट्वा कालः संहारबुद्धिमान् । देवतानां च सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणानां महीपते

Transliteration

śarīranirvṛtiṃ dṛṣṭvā kālaḥ saṃhārabuddhimān | devatānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ mahīpate

Translation

হে মহীপতে! দেহধারীদের লয় (নিবৃত্তি) দেখে, সংহারবুদ্ধিসম্পন্ন কাল সকল দেবতা এবং ব্রাহ্মণদেরও অবসান ঘটাল।

Word by Word

• शरीरनिर्वृतिम्: the cessation/relief of bodies
• शरीरनिर्वृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर + निर्वृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; समासः शरीरस्य निर्वृतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• संहारबुद्धिमान्: intent on destruction / having the thought of dissolution
• संहारबुद्धिमान्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहार + बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; समासः संहारे बुद्धिः यस्य (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भावः; अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिसदृशः)

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन

• महीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• महीपते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative); एकवचन; समासः महीपतेः = मह्याः पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses to identify the dialogue pair)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: शरीरनिर्वृतिं = शरीर + निर्वृतिम्; संहारबुद्धिमान् = संहार + बुद्धिमान्; (पादान्ते) तस्मिन् इत्यादि नास्ति—अत्र केवलं सम्बोधनम्

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Devatāḥ (gods)
• Brāhmaṇāḥ (Brahmins)
• Mahīpati (king)

FAQs

What is the central teaching of this verse?

It emphasizes the supremacy of Kāla (Time) as the cosmic force of dissolution: even exalted beings like gods and socially revered groups like Brahmins are subject to impermanence.

Why are both gods and Brahmins mentioned together?

The pairing highlights universality: neither divine status (gods) nor ritual-social authority (Brahmins) grants exemption from saṃhāra; all embodied existence is within Time’s domain.

What ethical lesson is implied for a king (mahīpati)?

A ruler should govern with humility and dharmic restraint, remembering that power, status, and even heavenly attainments are transient under Kāla.