Shloka 83

Invocations, Definition and Authority of Purāṇa, Pulastya–Bhīṣma Frame, and the Creation–Dissolution Schema

Devanagari script

मुनीन्प्रजापतींश्चैव सप्तर्षीन्प्रवरानपि । वर्णान्वायुं पुरास्थानं गंधर्वान्यक्षराक्षसान्

Transliteration

munīnprajāpatīṃścaiva saptarṣīnpravarānapi | varṇānvāyuṃ purāsthānaṃ gaṃdharvānyakṣarākṣasān

Translation

Er (manifestierte) die Munis und die Prajāpatis, ebenso die Vorzüglichsten unter den Sieben Ṛṣis; die Varṇas, Vāyu, die uralten Wohnstätten und auch die Gandharvas, Yakṣas und Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• मुनीन्: sages
• मुनीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्रजापतीन्: Prajāpatis
• प्रजापतीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समास-विग्रहः: प्रजायाः पतिः (lord of creatures)

• च: and
• च: None (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: None (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/just)

• सप्तर्षीन्: the seven sages
• सप्तर्षीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त-ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः: सप्त ऋषयः

• प्रवरान्: excellent, foremost
• प्रवरान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (superior/excellent)

• अपि: also
• अपि: None (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• वर्णान्: classes/castes; colors
• वर्णान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वायुम्: wind, air
• वायुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुरास्थानम्: ancient place/abode
• पुरास्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरा-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास-विग्रहः: पुरा (पूर्वं) स्थानम् / पुराणि स्थानानि इति (ancient abode/place)

• गन्धर्वान्: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• यक्षराक्षसान्: Yakṣas and Rākṣasas
• यक्षराक्षसान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष-राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: यक्षाः च राक्षसाः च

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (likely narration within the creation account of Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa, Adhyaya 2)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मुनीन् + प्रजापतीन् → मुनीन्प्रजापतीन्; च + एव → चैव; सप्तर्षीन् + प्रवरान् → सप्तर्षीन्प्रवरान्; वर्णान् + वायुम् → वर्णान्वायुं; गन्धर्वान् + यक्षराक्षसान् → गंधर्वान्यक्षराक्षसान् (अनुस्वार/नकार-सन्धि)।

Characters & Entities

• Prajāpatis
• Saptarṣis
• Vāyu
• Gandharvas
• Yakṣas
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

What is the main theme of this verse in the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa?

It catalogues categories of beings and cosmic constituents said to arise in the creation process—sages, progenitors, divine/semi-divine classes, and beings like Gandharvas, Yakṣas, and Rākṣasas.

Why are the Saptarṣis and Prajāpatis mentioned together?

In Purāṇic cosmology, Prajāpatis function as progenitors who generate lineages and worlds, while the Saptarṣis preserve and transmit sacred knowledge; together they represent creation and its ongoing ordering through dharma and tradition.

Does the mention of varṇas here imply a moral hierarchy?

The verse presents varṇas as part of the ordered structure of creation (a social-cosmic taxonomy). Ethical evaluation depends on broader Purāṇic context, where varṇa is ideally tied to duty (dharma) rather than mere status.