Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

यज्ञस्य दक्षिणायान्तु पुत्रा द्वादश जज्ञिरे ।

यामा इति समाख्याता देवाḥ स्वायम्भुवोऽन्तरे ॥

Transliteration

yajñasya dakṣiṇāyāntu putrā dvādaśa jajñire | yāmā iti samākhyātā devāḥ svāyambhuvo 'ntare ||

Translation

由耶阇那（Yajña）与达克希那（Dakṣiṇā）生出十二子，名为“夜摩众”（Yāmas）；他们在自生者（Svāyambhuva）摩奴纪（Manvantara）中为诸天神。

Word by Word

• यज्ञस्य: of Yajña
• यज्ञस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• दक्षिणायाम्: in/through Dakṣiṇā
• दक्षिणायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थ

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; बहुवचनार्थे विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• जज्ञिरे: were born
• जज्ञिरे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• यामाः: Yāmas (a class of gods)
• यामाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• इति: thus/“as”
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-चिह्न/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• समाख्याताः: were called/named
• समाख्याताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्वायम्भुवः: belonging to Svāyambhuva (Manu)
• स्वायम्भुवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वायम्भुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः स्वयम्+भू (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/तद्धित-निर्मित)

• अन्तरे: in the interval/period
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; ‘अन्तरे’ = in the period (antara)

Speakers

• Not explicitly indicated in the provided excerpt (genealogical narration within the Purāṇic frame).

Primary Deities

• Yajña
• Dakṣiṇā
• Yāmas

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Genealogy
• Manvantara

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text links cosmic time and governance to sacrificial order: divine functionaries (devas) arise from yajña, indicating that harmony in worlds is sustained by dharmic action and proper offering.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara: it explicitly locates a set of devas within the Svāyambhuva Manvantara and provides lineage data supporting Purāṇic chronology.

What is the esoteric significance?

The number twelve can mirror completeness in cyclical time (months/ādityas-like symbolism). The Yāmas as ‘time-divisions’/guardians suggest ordered rhythm emerging from yajña.