Shloka 48

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

Sanskrit

तामसीं भजमानायां योनिं मातर्यजायत ।

तमसा चावृते लोके तामसोऽयं भविष्यति ॥

Transliteration

tāmasīṃ bhajamānāyāṃ yoniṃ mātary ajāyata / tamasā cāvṛte loke tāmaso 'yaṃ bhaviṣyati

Translation

Er wurde von einer Mutter geboren, die in einen tamasischen Schoß eingegangen war; und da die Welt von Dunkelheit bedeckt war, wird er Tāmasa genannt werden.

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya narrating (sages’ rationale implied)

Key Themes

• Name etymology (nirukti)
• Guṇa theory (tamas)
• Cosmic darkness motif
• Epochal characterization