Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 74, Shloka 58

Adhyaya 74 — King Svarashtra, the Deer-Queen’s Curse, and the Rise of Tamasa Manu

Sanskrit

महाबलो महावीर्यः शतयज्ञोपलक्षितः ।

शिखिरीन्द्रस्तथा तेषां देवानामभवद्विभुः ॥

Transliteration

mahābalo mahāvīryaḥ śatayajñopalakṣitaḥ / śikhirindrastathā teṣāṃ devānāmabhavadvibhuḥ

Translation

Hùng mạnh về sức lực, hùng mạnh về dũng khí, và nổi bật bởi một trăm lễ tế—Śikhirī đã trở thành Indra, bậc quân vương của các vị thần ấy.

Word by Word

• mahā-balaḥ: of great strength
• mahā-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महत् बलं यस्य

• mahā-vīryaḥ: of great valor/power
• mahā-vīryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• śata-yajña-upalakṣitaḥ: distinguished by a hundred sacrifices
• śata-yajña-upalakṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + upalakṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शतयज्ञैः उपलक्षितः (distinguished by hundred sacrifices)

• śikhirīndraḥ: Śikhirīndra (name of Indra)
• śikhirīndraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhirin (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/उपपद: ‘śikhirin’ (peacock-crested/with plume) + ‘indra’ (chief) → proper name

• tathā: and
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘also/and’

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• abhavat: was/became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vibhuḥ: the mighty one, lord
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य (predicate noun)

Speakers

• Markandeya narrating

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śikhirī as the Indra of this Manvantara)

Key Themes

• Indra-office succession
• Merit via yajña
• Cosmic governance

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Authority is grounded in merit (yajña) and capacity (bala, vīrya). The ‘Indra’ role is presented as earned and cyclical, not permanent.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara: identification of the reigning Indra is a standard element of Manvantara description.

What is the esoteric significance?

Indra symbolizes the ruling faculty (command) within the cosmos/psyche; ‘hundred sacrifices’ implies sustained self-offering that stabilizes leadership.