Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 78, Shloka 31

Adhyaya 78 — Hymn to Surya and the Distribution of Solar Splendour; Genealogy of Vaivasvata and Chaya’s Line

Sanskrit

गुह्यकाधिपतित्वे च रेवन्तोऽपि नियोजितः ।

च्छायासंज्ञासुतानाञ्च नियोगः श्रूयतां मम ॥

Transliteration

guhyakādhipatitve ca revanto 'pi niyojitaḥ / cchāyāsaṃjñāsutānāñ ca niyogaḥ śrūyatāṃ mama

Translation

ແລະ ເຣວັນຕະ (Revanta) ກໍຖືກແຕ່ງຕັ້ງໃຫ້ເປັນເຈົ້າເຫນືອ ເຫນືອພວກ ກຸຫຍະກະ (guhyakas) ດ້ວຍ. ບັດນີ້ ຈົ່ງຟັງຈາກຂ້ອຍ ກ່ຽວກັບການແຕ່ງຕັ້ງ (niyoga) ຂອງບຸດທັງຫຼາຍຂອງ ຈາຍາ (Chāyā) ແລະ ສັມຊະຍາ (Saṃjñā)។

Word by Word

• guhyaka-adhipatitve: in the overlordship of the Guhyakas
• guhyaka-adhipatitve: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhyaka (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipatitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः: 'in the lordship/overlordship of the Guhyakas'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• revantaḥ: Revanta
• revantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: revanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-निपात (particle): 'also/even'

• niyojitaḥ: was appointed
• niyojitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√yuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); 'was appointed/assigned'

• cchāyā-saṃjñā-sutānām: of the sons of Chāyā and Saṃjñā
• cchāyā-saṃjñā-sutānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cchāyā (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen. 6), बहुवचन (pl.); तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला: 'of the sons of Chāyā and Saṃjñā'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• niyogaḥ: the appointment/commission
• niyogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• śrūyatām: let it be heard
• śrūyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); आज्ञार्थे: 'let it be heard'

• mama: from me/of me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.); उत्तमपुरुष सर्वनाम

Speakers

• Narratorial Purāṇic narration (transition marker: ‘hear from me’)

Primary Deities

• Revanta
• Guhyakas
• Kubera (implicit via guhyaka association)
• Sūrya (contextual)

Key Themes

• Cosmic offices
• Mythic administration
• Genealogical cataloguing

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic order is role-based: beings are ‘placed’ according to nature and merit. Social ethics mirror this—responsibility follows capacity and disposition.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita: cataloguing descendants and their offices; it also supports manvantara administration by mapping cosmic roles.

What is the esoteric significance?

Guhyakas (‘hidden ones’) point to subtle forces; Revanta’s lordship can symbolize mastery over the hidden impulses/energies that accompany wealth and power.