Shloka 17

Adhyaya 49 — Primordial Human Creation, the Rise of Desire, and the Origins of Settlements, Measures, and Agriculture

Sanskrit

अवारका ह्यण्डजा वा ते ह्यधर्मप्रसूतयः ।

न मूलफलपुष्पाणि नार्तवा वत्सराणि च ॥

Transliteration

avārakā hyaṇḍajā vā te hyadharmaprasūtayaḥ /

na mūlaphalapuṣpāṇi nārtavā vatsarāṇi ca

Translation

They were without impediment to enjoyment and were egg-born; indeed, they were born of adharma. There were no roots, fruits, or flowers as food, and there were no seasons or yearly cycles marked by menstruation (or periods of fertility) either.

Word by Word

• avārakāḥ: unobstructed; without hindrance
• avārakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/particle (निपात)

• aṇḍajāḥ: egg-born beings
• aṇḍajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṇḍaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya/conjunction (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/particle (निपात)

• adharma-prasūtayaḥ: born of adharma (unrighteousness)
• adharma-prasūtayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक) + prasūta (कृदन्त; √sū (धातु) + pra उपसर्ग, क्त) + i (स्त्रीप्रत्यय)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); Tatpuruṣa: adharmāt prasūtāḥ (born from unrighteousness)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-avyaya/negation (प्रतिषेध)

• mūla-phala-puṣpāṇi: roots, fruits, and flowers
• mūla-phala-puṣpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); Itaretara-dvandva (समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• na: nor
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-avyaya/negation (प्रतिषेध)

• ārtavāḥ: seasons/periods (ṛtus)
• ārtavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārtava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• vatsarāṇi: years
• vatsarāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya/conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Purana’s cosmological account (frame-speaker not specified in provided excerpt)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Anthropogony
• Dharma/Adharma
• Mythic time

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When adharma predominates, life-forms and social order arise in abnormal ways (egg-birth, lack of ordinary seasonal rhythms). The verse frames moral order (dharma) as linked to natural order (ṛtu/seasonality and regulated fertility).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Sarga/Pratisarga-style material (creation and re-creation descriptions) and also touches Manvantara-type narration insofar as it describes conditions of an age.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘No ṛtu (ārtava)’ symbolically indicates a world not governed by ṛta (cosmic law). Egg-birth can signify unmediated, non-ritualized generation—existence arising without saṃskāra (refining rites).