Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 61, Shloka 7

Adhyaya 61 — The Second Manvantara Begins: The Brahmin’s Swift Journey and Varuthini’s Temptation on Himavat

Sanskrit

तस्य बुद्धिरियं त्वासीदहं पश्ये वसुन्धराम् ।

अतिरम्यवनोद्यानां नानानगरशोभिताम् ॥

Transliteration

tasya buddhir iyaṃ tv āsīd ahaṃ paśye vasundharām |

atiramya-vano-dyānāṃ nānā-nagara-śobhitām ||

Translation

Sumibol sa kanya ang ganitong pag-iisip: “Nawa’y masilayan ko ang daigdig—na pinalamutian ng lubhang kaaya-ayang mga gubat at hardin, at pinaganda ng maraming lungsod.”

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumān/Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• buddhiḥ: thought/idea
• buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• iyam: this
• iyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun agreeing with ‘buddhiḥ’

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु; अस्तित्वे)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• paśye: see
• paśye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु; दर्शने)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Uttama (1st), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• vasundharām: the earth
• vasundharām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasundharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ati-ramya-vana-udyānām: having exceedingly lovely forests and gardens
• ati-ramya-vana-udyānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + ramya (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक) + udyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (बहुपद-समास) ‘ati-ramyāṇi vanāni udyānāni ca yasyām’; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying ‘vasundharām’

• nānā-nagara-śobhitām: adorned with many cities
• nānā-nagara-śobhitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + nagara (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (कृदन्त; √śubh दीप्तौ)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/बहुपद) ‘nānā-nagaraiḥ śobhitā’; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; past passive participle used adjectivally, qualifying ‘vasundharām’

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya narrating to Krauṣṭuki

Key Themes

• Dharma narrative setup
• Sacred geography (earth as a beautified realm)
• Human aspiration

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse portrays a refined desire—seeking to witness the world’s beauty. In Purāṇic storytelling, such intentions often become the seed for journeys that test dharma and reveal cosmic order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Within 'Manvantara' narration as an initiating motive for an episode; it may later connect to 'Vaṃśānucarita' if the journey intersects with rulers/lineages.

What is the esoteric significance?

The wish to 'see the earth' can be read as the soul’s urge to experience manifestation (prakṛti) in its fullness; forests/gardens/cities symbolize the layered expressions of nature, cultivation, and social order.