Shloka 37

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

Sanskrit

अष्टौ वर्षसहस्राणि दिव्यया संख्यया युतम् ।

द्विपञ्चाशत्तथान्यानि सहस्राण्यधिकानि तु ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭau varṣa-sahasrāṇi divyayā saṃkhyayā yutam | dvi-pañcāśat tathā anyāni sahasrāṇy adhikāni tu ||

Translation

Acht tausend Jahre nach göttlicher Zeitrechnung; und dazu weitere zweiundfünfzigtausend (Jahre) als zusätzlicher Betrag.

Word by Word

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषणम्; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा (१) बहुवचनम् (agreeing with implied 'varṣāṇi' or counting)

• varṣa-sahasrāṇi: thousands of years
• varṣa-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (१/२) बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (varṣāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi)

• divyayā: by a divine
• divyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (३) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (saṃkhyayā)

• saṃkhyayā: by count/number
• saṃkhyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (३) एकवचनम्

• yutam: joined/combined with
• yutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) → yuta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (१/२) एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं विशेषणम् (युक्तम्)

• dvi-pañcāśat: fifty-two
• dvi-pañcāśat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + pañcāśat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचकं; अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः (52)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्ययार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थे (also/likewise)

• anyāni: other/additional
• anyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (१/२) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (sahasrāṇi)

• sahasrāṇi: thousands
• sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (१/२) बहुवचनम्

• adhikāni: extra/in excess
• adhikāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (१/२) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (sahasrāṇi)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपातः

Speakers

• Cosmological instruction within the Markandeya Purāṇa’s teaching narrative (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Chronology
• Sandhyā (junctures)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic time includes ‘transition periods’ beyond the main epochs; ethically, it cautions that change is structured and that thresholds require vigilance and restraint.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara: fine-grained subdivision of time within/around Manu-periods, often via sandhyā intervals.

What is the esoteric significance?

Junction-periods symbolize liminality—states between stability and dissolution—mirroring inner spiritual transitions where old patterns fade before new order arises.