Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 48, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 48 — The Emanation of Beings from Brahma: Night, Day, Twilight, and the Orders of Creation

Sanskrit

तस्माद् देवा दिवा रात्रावसुरास्तु बलान्विताः ।

ज्योत्स्नागमे च मनुजाः सन्ध्यायां पितरस्तथा ॥

Transliteration

tasmād devā divā rātrau asurās tu balānvitāḥ / jyotsnāgame ca manujāḥ sandhyāyāṃ pitaras tathā

Translation

Therefore the gods are strong by day, and the asuras are strong at night. At the coming of moonlight humans are (strong), and at twilight the Pitṛs likewise (are strong).

Word by Word

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

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘by day/in daytime’)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• असुराः: asuras
• असुराः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विभेदार्थक अव्यय (adversative particle)

• बलान्विताः: endowed with strength
• बलान्विताः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘endowed with strength’); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √इ (अन्वि/अन्वित ‘endowed’ as adjectival); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying असुराः)

• ज्योत्स्नागमे: at the coming of moonlight
• ज्योत्स्नागमे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योत्स्ना + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘arrival of moonlight’); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मनुजाः: humans
• मनुजाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सन्ध्यायाम्: at twilight
• सन्ध्यायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पितरः: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितरः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘likewise/so’ (adverb)

Speakers

• Narrative doctrinal statement

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Pitṛs

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Ritual time
• Deva-Asura polarity
• Pitṛs and sandhyā

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The cosmos is portrayed as time-sensitive: different beings ‘flourish’ in different temporal guṇa-climates. Practically, it reinforces choosing appropriate times for rites—especially sandhyā-associated ancestor remembrance and disciplined conduct at night.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sarga (ordering of beings and their powers) with an implicit dharma-application to ritual timing.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Strength’ can be read as psychological dominance: divine clarity by day (sattva), asuric impulses by night (tamas/rajas), ancestral memory at twilight (liminal), and human agency under moonlight (reflective, moderated light).