Shloka 2

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

महामायानुभावेन यथा मन्वन्तराधिपः ।

स बभूव महाभागः सावर्णिस्तनयो रवेः ॥

Transliteration

mahāmāyānubhāvena yathā manvantarādhipaḥ / sa babhūva mahābhāgaḥ sāvarṇis tanayo raveḥ

Translation

Durch die Macht der Mahāmāyā wurde der glückverheißende Sāvarṇi, Sohn des Ravi (der Sonne), zum Herrn eines Manvantara.

Word by Word

• mahā-māyā-anubhāvena: by the power of great māyā
• mahā-māyā-anubhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + anubhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa chain: ‘mahā-māyāyāḥ anubhāvena’ (by the power/effect of great māyā)

• yathā: as, in the manner that
• yathā: Upamā/Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative/illustrative adverb ‘as/how’

• manvantara-adhipaḥ: lord of a Manvantara
• manvantara-adhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manvantara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘manvantarasya adhipaḥ’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• mahā-bhāgaḥ: greatly fortunate
• mahā-bhāgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Karmadhāraya: ‘mahān bhāgaḥ yasya’ (very fortunate)

• sāvarṇiḥ: Sāvarṇi
• sāvarṇiḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvarṇi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tanayaḥ: son
• tanayaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• raveḥ: of Ravi (the Sun)
• raveḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing from 81.1)

Primary Deities

• Mahāmāyā (Devī as cosmic power)
• Sūrya (Ravi)

Shakti Aspects

• Mahāmāyā (as supreme empowering principle; not in battle-context here)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Śakti (Mahāmāyā) as enabling power
• Manvantara sovereignty

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Cosmic rulership is not merely hereditary; it is enabled by higher śakti. The verse locates true capacity for office in divine empowerment—suggesting humility and dependence on the supreme order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara: it explains the establishment of a Manu (manvantara-adhipa) and begins the causal narrative behind that appointment.

What is the esoteric significance?

Mahāmāyā is the bridge between potential and manifestation: she ‘turns’ a being into a cosmic office-holder. This points to śakti as the operative principle by which time-cycles and authorities arise.