Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 72, Shloka 31

Adhyaya 72 — The Reconciliation Rite, Sarasvati Sacrifice, and the Birth of Uttama Manu (Auttama Manvantara Prelude)

Sanskrit

तव पुत्रो महावीर्यो भविष्यति नराधिप ।

तस्माप्रतिहतं चक्रमस्यां भुवि भविष्यति ॥

Transliteration

tava putro mahāvīryo bhaviṣyati narādhipa | tasmāpratihataṃ cakram asyāṃ bhuvi bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

„O Herr der Menschen, dein Sohn wird von großer Tapferkeit sein; daher wird auf dieser Erde das Rad seiner Herrschaft ungehindert rollen.“

Word by Word

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महावीर्यः: of great valor
• महावीर्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to पुत्रः)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नराधिप: O king
• नराधिप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that)

• अप्रतिहतम्: unhindered, irresistible
• अप्रतिहतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (to चक्रम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- + प्रति-√हन् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘not repelled/unchecked’

• चक्रम्: wheel/discus (sovereign power)
• चक्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (here as subject of ‘will be’)

• अस्याम्: in this
• अस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; निर्देश (in this)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Nāgarājasutā to the king

Key Themes

• Royal legitimacy
• Prophecy
• Imperial sovereignty (cakra)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power is portrayed as dharmically conditioned: ‘unobstructed dominion’ is implied to arise from merit and proper order, not mere conquest.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita with a Manvantara link: the rise of a ruler whose scope anticipates Manu-status (lawgiver/epochal sovereign).

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘cakra’ symbolizes cosmic order in motion—when dharma aligns, the wheel turns without friction (obstruction), mirroring ṛta-like harmony in kingship.