Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 52, Shloka 21

Adhyaya 52 — The Manifestation of Nilalohita (Rudra) and the Allocation of His Names, Abodes, Consorts, and Lineages

Sanskrit

सिनीवाली कुहूश्चैव राका भानुमती तथा ।

अनसूया तथैवात्रेर् जज्ञे पुत्रानकल्मषान् ॥

Transliteration

sinīvālī kuhūś caiva rākā bhānumatī tathā | anasūyā tathaivātrer jajñe putrān akalmaṣān ||

Translation

सिनीवाली और कुहू, राका और भानुमती—ये (कन्याएँ) थीं। इसी प्रकार अत्रि की पत्नी अनसूया ने निर्मल पुत्रों को जन्म दिया।

Word by Word

• सिनीवाली: Sinīvālī (name)
• सिनीवाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिनीवाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (proper name)

• कुहूः: Kuhū (name)
• कुहूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (proper name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed)

• राका: Rākā (name)
• राका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (proper name)

• भानुमती: Bhānumatī (name)
• भानुमती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानुमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (proper name)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (also)

• अनसूया: Anasūyā (name)
• अनसूया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनसूया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (proper name)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and also)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed)

• अत्रेः: of Atri
• अत्रेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular (of Atri)

• जज्ञे: was born/was produced
• जज्ञे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘was born/was produced’

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• अकल्मषान्: stainless/pure
• अकल्मषान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural; विशेषण (neg. a- + कल्मष ‘stain’)

Speakers

• Narratorial genealogical discourse

Primary Deities

• Atri
• Anasūyā

Shakti Aspects

• Lunar-associated feminine figures (Sinīvālī
• Kuhū
• Rākā) as named personifications; not Devi Māhātmya forms

Key Themes

• Personified lunar phases/rites
• Virtue personified (Anasūyā)
• Genealogy of sages

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Anasūyā embodies the ethical ideal of freedom from envy/ill-will; her ‘stainless sons’ reflect the Purāṇic theme that inner virtue in household life generates spiritual excellence in progeny.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṁśa: continued listing of descendants and personified figures linked to time (lunar phases) and virtue.

What is the esoteric significance?

The cluster of Sinīvālī–Kuhū–Rākā suggests sacred time encoded as feminine powers; aligning lineage and ritual with lunar order implies that dharma unfolds in rhythm with cosmic cycles.