Shloka 49

Adhyaya 76 — The Sixth Manvantara: Cakshusha Manu, the Child-Snatcher, and the Problem of Kinship

Sanskrit

आप्या नाम सुरास्तत्र तेषामेकोऽष्टको गणः ।

प्रख्यातकर्मणां विप्र यज्ञे हव्यभुजामयम् ॥

Transliteration

āpyā nāma surās tatra teṣām eko 'ṣṭako gaṇaḥ / prakhyātakarmaṇāṃ vipra yajñe havyabhujām ayam

Translation

ಅಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವರುಗಳನ್ನು ‘ಆಪ್ಯ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು; ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂಟು ಮಂದಿಯ ಒಂದು ಗಣವಿತ್ತು. ಹೇ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ, ಕರ್ಮಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರಾದ ಇವರೆ ಯಜ್ಞದಲ್ಲಿ ಹವಿಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಭುಂಜಿಸುವವರು.

Word by Word

• āpyāḥ: Āpyas (a class of gods)
• āpyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.) (देवगण-नाम), प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pl.)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable meaning ‘by name’)

• surāḥ: gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, बहुवचन (pl.)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण to ‘gaṇaḥ’

• aṣṭakaḥ: a group of eight
• aṣṭakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन (sg.); अर्थ: ‘आठ का समूह’

• gaṇaḥ: troop/class
• gaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन (sg.)

• prakhyāta-karmaṇām: of renowned deeds
• prakhyāta-karmaṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakhyāta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.) (समूह-सम्बन्धे), षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषण to ‘havyabhujām’

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (sg.)

• yajñe: in the sacrifice
• yajñe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (sg.)

• havyabhujām: of the oblation-eaters (gods)
• havyabhujām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), बहुवचन (pl.); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘हव्यं भुङ्क्ते इति’ (those who consume oblations)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन (sg.)

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya narrating

Key Themes

• Deva taxonomy
• Sacrificial cosmology
• Manvantara administration

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The cosmos is sustained through yajña-language: devas are portrayed as functionaries of sacrificial exchange, emphasizing reciprocity between humans and the divine order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara: enumerating the deva-groups characteristic of a particular Manu’s reign.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Havya-bhuj’ suggests that offerings represent transformed human intention; devas ‘consume’ it as the subtle channel by which order and merit circulate.