Shloka 48

Adhyaya 74Battle with Mahishasura

तामसीं भजमानायां योनिं मातर्यजायत ।

तमसा चावृते लोके तामसोऽयं भविष्यति ॥

tāmasīṃ bhajamānāyāṃ yoniṃ mātary ajāyata / tamasā cāvṛte loke tāmaso 'yaṃ bhaviṣyati

అతడు తామసిక యోనిలో ప్రవేశించిన తల్లి నుండి జన్మించాడు; లోకం అంధకారంతో కప్పబడినందున అతడు ‘తామస’ అని పిలువబడును।

tāmasīmdark, tamasic
tāmasīm:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottāmasī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to 'yonim'
bhajamānāyāmwhile (she) was resorting to/engaging in
bhajamānāyām:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Root√bhaj (धातु) + bhajamāna (कृदन्त)
Formवर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ/शानच्; ātmanepada sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)
yonimwomb, birth-state
yonim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyoni (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
mātariin/with the mother
mātari:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootmātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
ajāyatawas born
ajāyata:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√jan (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect, past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)
tamasāby darkness
tamasā:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Roottamas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)
āvṛtewhen (it is) covered
āvṛte:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootā-√vṛ (धातु) + āvṛta (कृदन्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP); सप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सति-सप्तमी with 'loke'
lokein the world
loke:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
tāmasaḥtamasic, of darkness
tāmasaḥ:
Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधान-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (predicative) to 'ayam'
ayamthis (one)
ayam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
bhaviṣyatiwill be
bhaviṣyati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√bhū (धातु)
Formलृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
Mārkaṇḍeya narrating (sages’ rationale implied)
Name etymology (nirukti)Guṇa theory (tamas)Cosmic darkness motifEpochal characterization

FAQs

Purāṇic naming often encodes circumstance and character: the verse ties identity to guṇa-influence and the ambient condition of the world, implying that leaders arise shaped by their time.

Manvantara-adjacent Vamśānucarita: the naming ‘Tāmasa’ helps classify the figure within the larger epochal/Manu narrative.

‘Darkness covering the world’ can symbolize collective ignorance; the emergence of a Manu-figure even in tamas hints that order can be instituted amid decline, though colored by the prevailing guṇa.