Shloka 7

Adhyaya 46 — Cosmic Dissolution, the Emergence of Brahma, and the Measures of Time (Yugas, Manvantaras, and Brahma’s Day)

Sanskrit

उत्पत्तिर्ब्रह्मणो यावदायुṣो द्विपरार्धिकम् ।

तावद्दिनं परेśस्य तत्समा संयमे निशा ॥

Transliteration

utpattir brahmaṇo yāvad āyuṣo dviparārdhikam |

tāvad dinaṃ pareśasya tat-samā saṃyame niśā ||

Translation

ब्रह्मा के प्रकट होने से लेकर उनके जीवन के अंत तक—परिमाण में दो परार्ध—यही परमेश्वर का दिन है। उतनी ही अवधि की उसकी रात्रि है, जिसमें यह जगत् संनियमन (प्रलय) में स्थित रहता है।

Word by Word

• utpattiḥ: origin, creation
• utpattiḥ: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā/Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• yāvat: as long as, up to the extent that
• yāvat: Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (limit/extent marker)

• āyuṣaḥ: of lifespan
• āyuṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• dvi-parārdhikam: amounting to two parārdhas (two halves of the supreme measure)
• dvi-parārdhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + parārdha (प्रातिपदिक) + -ika (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-समास (dvigu)

• tāvat: so much, for that long
• tāvat: Pramāṇa (प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; तादृश-परिमाणवाचक (correlative extent marker)

• dinam: day
• dinam: Viṣaya/Pramāṇa (विषय/प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन

• pareśasya: of the Supreme Lord
• pareśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pareśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; पर + ईश (श्रेष्ठस्य ईशः)

• tat-samā: equal to that (in duration)
• tat-samā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + samā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्समा = तेन समा (equal to that)

• saṃyame: in restraint; in the state of withdrawal (yogic restraint)
• saṃyame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• niśā: night
• niśā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Brahmā
• Parameśvara / the Supreme Lord (as cosmic regulator)

Key Themes

• Cosmic time
• Day-night of the Lord
• Pralaya duration
• Purāṇic chronology

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Vast time-scales humble human concerns and place dharma within an immense cosmic rhythm. The ‘night’ metaphor emphasizes periodic rest/withdrawal as intrinsic to order, not a catastrophe.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Directly tied to Sarga/Pratisarga and Vaṃśānucarita-style cosmography/chronology: it supplies temporal measures for creation–dissolution cycles, a hallmark Purāṇic function.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Day’ and ‘night’ of the Supreme signify alternating phases of projection and retraction—mirroring breath or meditation cycles—suggesting that cosmic process is a regulated pulsation of consciousness-power.