Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 48, Shloka 27

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

Sanskrit

उष्ट्रानश्वतरांश्चैव नानारूपाश्च जातयः ।

ओषध्यः फलमूलिन्यो रोमभ्यस्तस्य जज्ञिरे ॥

Transliteration

uṣṭrān aśvatarāṃś caiva nānārūpāś ca jātayaḥ | oṣadhyaḥ phalamūlinyo romabhyas tasya jajñire ||

Translation

Camels and mules, and many other kinds of diverse forms, were also created. Medicinal plants—bearing fruits and roots—were born from his hairs.

Word by Word

• उष्ट्रान्: camels
• उष्ट्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• अश्वतरान्: mules
• अश्वतरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• नाना-रूपाः: of various forms
• नाना-रूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विशेष्य-सामानाधिकरण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• जातयः: species/kinds
• जातयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• ओषध्यः: medicinal plants/herbs
• ओषध्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• फल-मूलिन्यः: bearing fruits and roots
• फल-मूलिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + मूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विशेषण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• रोमभ्यः: from the hairs
• रोमभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that (being)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• जज्ञिरे: were born/arose
• जज्ञिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speakers

• Narratorial cosmology within Markandeya Purana’s discourse frame (exact speaker depends on edition’s framing dialogue)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Brahmā (implied as creator)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Sarga
• Biodiversity
• Oṣadhi (medicinal plants)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Plants, especially oṣadhis, are framed as primordial gifts embedded in creation itself, supporting an ethic of healing and stewardship of the natural world.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Sarga: extends creation from animals to flora, a standard Purāṇic move in the catalog of manifested orders.

What is the esoteric significance?

Hair symbolizes countless fine channels; oṣadhis arising from hair suggests subtle life-force (prāṇa) externalized as remedies—nature mirroring the body’s healing intelligence.