Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 52, Shloka 13

Adhyaya 52 — The Manifestation of Nilalohita (Rudra) and the Allocation of His Names, Abodes, Consorts, and Lineages

Sanskrit

हिमवद्दुहिता साभून्मेनायां द्विजसत्तम ।

तस्या भ्राता तु मैनाकः सखाम्भोधेरनुत्तमः ॥

Transliteration

himavadduhitā sābhūn menāyāṃ dvijasattama | tasyā bhrātā tu mainākaḥ sakhāmbhodher anuttamaḥ ||

Translation

O pinakamainam sa mga dalawang-ulit na isinilang, siya’y naging anak na babae ni Himavat, na isinilang kay Menā. Ang kapatid niyang lalaki ay si Maināka, ang walang kapantay na kaibigan ng karagatan.

Word by Word

• himavat: of Himavat (Himālaya)
• himavat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) singular (in compound with duhitā)

• duhitā: daughter
• duhitā: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate nominative
• Type: Noun
• Root: duhitṛ (दुहितृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative singular

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative singular

• abhūt: became; was born
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past, Parasmaipada, 3rd person singular

• menāyām: in Menā (as mother/womb)
• menāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: menā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी) singular

• dvija-sattama: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/प्रथमा) singular; tatpuruṣa: 'best among dvijas'

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Genitive singular

• bhrātā: brother
• bhrātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (भ्रातृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative singular

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• mainākaḥ: Maināka
• mainākaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to bhrātā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maināka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative singular

• sakhā: friend
• sakhā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (सखि) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative singular

• ambhodheḥ: of the ocean
• ambhodheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambhodhi (अम्भोधि) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive singular

• anuttamaḥ: unsurpassed; excellent
• anuttamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative singular; agrees with sakhā/mainākaḥ

Speakers

• Narratorial genealogical discourse (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Himavat
• Menā
• Pārvatī/Umā (implied)
• Maināka

Shakti Aspects

• Pārvatī/Umā implied as Satī reborn (not named explicitly in this verse)

Key Themes

• Rebirth and continuity of Śakti
• Sacred geography (mountain/ocean personifications)
• Genealogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Purāṇic worldview ties cosmic order to family-line continuity: even after rupture (Satī’s departure), dharma is restored through re-manifestation in a fitting lineage (Himavat–Menā).

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṁśa/Vaṁśānucarita: identification of divine-mythic kinship relations (Himavat, Menā, Maināka).

What is the esoteric significance?

Mountains and ocean are cosmic symbols: stability (parvata) and depth (sāgara). Śakti’s birth from Himavat suggests her grounding in tapas (austere steadiness) before reuniting with Śiva.