Shloka 38

Adhyaya 72 — The Reconciliation Rite, Sarasvati Sacrifice, and the Birth of Uttama Manu (Auttama Manvantara Prelude)

Sanskrit

जातोऽयमुत्तमे वंशे तत्र काले तथोत्तमे ।

उत्तमावयवस्तेन औत्तमोऽयं भविष्यति ॥

Transliteration

jāto 'yam uttame vaṃśe tatra kāle tathottame / uttamāvayavas tena auttamo 'yaṃ bhaviṣyati

Translation

เขาเกิดในตระกูลอันประเสริฐ และในกาลอันประเสริฐเช่นเดียวกัน อวัยวะและสัณฐานกายของเขาก็เลิศ ดังนั้นผู้นี้จักเป็นที่รู้จักนามว่า ‘อุตตมะ (Auttama)’

Word by Word

• jātaḥ: born
• jātaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु) → jāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to 'ayam'

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttame: in the excellent
• uttame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies 'vaṃśe'

• vaṃśe: lineage
• vaṃśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, adverb (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• kāle: at (that) time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• uttame: excellent
• uttame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies 'kāle' (understood)

• uttama-avayavaḥ: having excellent limbs/parts
• uttama-avayavaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + avayava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to 'ayam'

• tena: therefore/by that
• tena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• auttamaḥ: Auttama (name/descendant of Uttama)
• auttamaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: auttama (प्रातिपदिक; patronymic/derivative from uttama)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate noun

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaviṣyati: will be/become
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Markandeya’s discourse (context continues into explicit 'Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca' in 72.39)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Manvantara
• Genealogy
• Etymology of names

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Excellence (uttamatva) is portrayed as arising from both auspicious circumstance (kāla) and inherent qualities (avayava). The verse frames identity and destiny as aligned with virtue and auspicious conditions.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara: it supports the manvantara-account by explaining the origin and naming of the Auttama figure connected to the Auttama Manvantara cycle.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Excellent time’ (uttama-kāla) and ‘excellent limbs’ can be read as inner and outer readiness: the right cosmic timing plus a fit instrument (body-mind) yields dharmic leadership associated with a Manvantara.