Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 17, Shloka 12

Adhyaya 17 — The Birth of Atri’s Three Sons: Soma, Dattatreya, and Durvasa

Sanskrit

सोमः स्वरश्मिभैः शीतैर्वोरुधौषधिमानवान् ।

आप्याययन् सदा स्वर्गे वर्तते स प्रजापतिः ॥

Transliteration

somaḥ svaraśmibhaiḥ śītairvorudhauṣadhimānavān |

āpyāyayan sadā svarge vartate sa prajāpatiḥ ||

Translation

苏摩以清凉之光，恒常滋养大海、诸药草与人类。彼那位生主（Prajāpati）常住天界。

Word by Word

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वरश्मिभिः: with his own rays
• स्वरश्मिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वाः रश्मयः (his own rays)

• शीतैः: cool
• शीतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘rays’)

• उरु: abundant
• उरु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरु (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् विशेषण (indeclinable adjective) ‘much/abundant’; समासपूर्वपद

• धौषधिमानवान्: men rich in herbs/medicinal plants (i.e., making people/herbs flourish)
• धौषधिमानवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धि? (पाठभेद) / औषधि + मानवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (उरु-पूर्वक): उरु + औषधि + मानवत्; ‘having/possessing herbs’ (औषधिमान्) applied to ‘men/people’ (मानव)

• आप्याययन्: nourishing
• आप्याययन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√प्यै/√प्या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-प्रयोग; ‘nourishing/increasing’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वर्तते: abides/exists
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजापतिः: lord of creatures (Prajāpati)
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: प्रजानाम् पतिः

Speakers

• Narrative voice (Purāṇic narrator within the Markandeya Purana’s ongoing discourse; not Devi Māhātmya)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Soma (Candra)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Ecology (herbs, waters)
• Divine nourishment
• Celestial order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Cosmic luminaries are framed as benefactors sustaining life: the Moon’s ‘cool rays’ become a theology of interdependence—humans, plants, and waters thrive through ordered celestial rhythms.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sarga-adjacent cosmological function statement embedded within Vaṃśānucarita (Soma’s origin and role).

What is the esoteric significance?

Cooling rays symbolize the soothing, stabilizing principle that counterbalances fiery forces; Soma here represents the nourishing ‘rasa’ current that supports life, medicine (oṣadhi), and the watery element.