Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 11
Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)
स चोक्तो वै पृथक् स्त्रीत्वं पुरुषत्वं तथाऽकरोत् ।
बिभेद पुरुषत्वञ्च दशधा चैकधा तु सः ॥
sa cokto vai pṛthak strītvaṃ puruṣatvaṃ tathākarot | bibheda puruṣatvaṃ ca daśadhā caikadhā tu saḥ ||
ಹೀಗೆ ಉಪದೇಶಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟವನು ಸ್ತ್ರೀತ್ವ ಮತ್ತು ಪುಂಸ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕ ಮಾಡಿದನು. ನಂತರ ಪುರುಷಸ್ವಭಾವವನ್ನು ಹತ್ತು ಭಾಗಗಳಾಗಿ ವಿಭಜಿಸಿದರೂ, ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಅಂಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನು ಏಕನಾಗಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದನು।
FAQs
Multiplicity can arise without loss of underlying unity. The verse encodes a Purāṇic principle: one reality expresses itself in many functional forms for sustaining the world.
Sarga shading into Vaṃśa: differentiation sets up the structural basis for later lineages and social/cosmic functions.
‘Tenfold’ often signals a complete set of functions (e.g., directions, senses, or administrative divisions in mythic language). The ‘onefold’ remainder hints that the source remains undivided despite emanations.