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

Sejak kemunculan Brahmā hingga akhir masa hidupnya—berukuran dua parārdha—itulah siang Sang Tuhan Tertinggi. Malam-Nya sama panjang; pada saat itu jagat ditahan dan menyusut dalam pralaya (peleburan).

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.