Shloka 46

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्व॑ तु षोडशाद्‌ वर्षाद्‌ ये भवन्ति ग्रहा नृणाम्‌ । तानहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि नमस्कृत्य महेश्वरम्‌,अब मैं भगवान्‌ महेश्वरको नमस्कार करके उन ग्रहोंका परिचय दूँगा, जो सोलह वर्षकी अवस्थाके बाद मनुष्योंके लिये अनिष्टकारक होते हैं

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṁ tu ṣoḍaśād varṣād ye bhavanti grahā nṛṇām | tān ahaṁ sampravakṣyāmi namaskṛtya maheśvaram ||

Translation

Markandeya said: “Now I shall describe those malignant ‘seizers’ (grahas) that afflict human beings after the age of sixteen. First, having bowed in reverence to Lord Maheśvara, I will set forth their nature.”

Word by Word

ऊर्ध्वम्afterwards; beyond; above

तुbut; indeed

षोडशात्from sixteen

वर्षात्from (the) year/age

येwho/which

भवन्तिbecome; are

ग्रहाःseizers; afflicting spirits (grahas)

नृणाम्of men; of humans

तान्those (them)

अहम्I

सम्प्रवक्ष्यामिI shall explain fully; I will describe

नमस्कृत्यhaving saluted; after bowing to

महेश्वरम्Maheshvara (the Great Lord, Shiva)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Maheśvara (Śiva)

grahāḥ (afflicting forces)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before speaking on forces that can harm human life, the speaker begins with reverent salutation to Maheśvara, implying that knowledge meant for protection and ethical living should be grounded in humility and divine remembrance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya announces a forthcoming exposition: he will enumerate and explain the harmful grahas that trouble people after the age of sixteen, and he frames this teaching by first bowing to Lord Śiva (Maheśvara).