Shloka 64

Adhyaya 49 — Primordial Human Creation, the Rise of Desire, and the Origins of Settlements, Measures, and Agriculture

Sanskrit

पुनस्तासु प्रणष्टासु विभ्रान्तास्ताः पुनः प्रजाः ।

ब्रह्माणं शरणं जग्मुः क्षुधार्ताः परमेष्ठिनम् ॥

Transliteration

punas tāsu praṇaṣṭāsu vibhrāntās tāḥ punaḥ prajāḥ /

brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ jagmuḥ kṣudhārtāḥ parameṣṭhinam //

Translation

Als jene (Kräuter) abermals zugrunde gingen, wurden die Wesen erneut verwirrt. Vom Hunger gequält, suchten sie Zuflucht bei Brahmā, dem höchsten Herrn (Parameṣṭhin).

Word by Word

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति (again)

• tāsu: when/among those (fem.)
• tāsu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• praṇaṣṭāsu: (when they were) destroyed/vanished
• praṇaṣṭāsu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute sense)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√naś (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘having perished/vanished’

• vibhrāntāḥ: bewildered
• vibhrāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√bhram (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘confused, bewildered’

• tāḥ: they (fem.)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति (again)

• prajāḥ: the creatures/people
• prajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः द्वितीया (as goal)

• jagmuḥ: went
• jagmuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; √गम्

• kṣudhā-ārtāḥ: afflicted by hunger
• kṣudhā-ārtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (kṣudhāyā ārtaḥ) ‘afflicted by hunger’

• parameṣṭhinam: the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin/Brahmā)
• parameṣṭhinam: Karma (कर्म/object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषण/नाम

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Markandeya Purana (frame not explicit in given excerpt)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Brahmā

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Dependence on divine order
• Crisis and refuge
• Karma and consequence

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When self-centered consumption destroys supports, beings are driven back to humility and supplication—recognizing a higher governance of sustenance beyond mere force.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Poṣaṇa: appeal to the creator for restoration of nourishment; also Sarga-related continuity (re-establishing the world’s functioning).

What is the esoteric significance?

Turning to Brahmā signifies returning to buddhi/principle of order when instinct (hunger) and confusion dominate—re-centering in cosmic intelligence.