Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 77, Shloka 11

Adhyaya 77 — Sanjna’s Withdrawal from Surya: The Birth of Yama and Yamuna, and the Emergence of Chhaya

Sanskrit

ततः पितृगृहे गन्तुं कृतबुद्धिर्यशस्विनी ।

छायामयीमात्मतनुं निर्ममे दयितां रवेः ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ pitṛgṛhe gantuṃ kṛtabuddhiryaśasvinī / chāyāmayīmātmatanuṃ nirmame dayitāṃ raveḥ

Translation

于是，她决意前往父家；那位声名卓著、为罗毗（Ravi）所钟爱的夫人，从自身化现出一个由影子所成的形体（Chāyā）。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Hetu/Anantarya (अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (thereupon/from that)

• पितृ-गृहे: in the father's house
• पितृ-गृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितुः गृहे)

• गन्तुम्: to go
• गन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; ‘to go’

• कृत-बुद्धिः: having resolved, determined
• कृत-बुद्धिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातु, कृदन्त) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘कृता बुद्धिः यस्याः’ (resolved sense: determined)

• यशस्विनी: glorious, renowned
• यशस्विनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• छाया-मयीम्: made of shadow
• छाया-मयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (छायया मयी = made of shadow)

• आत्म-तनुम्: her own body/form
• आत्म-तनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः तनुम्)

• निर्ममे: created, fashioned
• निर्ममे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्मा (धातु; निर्+मा)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/पर्फेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दयिताम्: beloved (woman)
• दयिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दयिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• रवेः: of the Sun
• रवेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice (Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Saṃjñā
• Chāyā (created form)
• Sūrya (Ravi)

Key Themes

• Chāyā motif
• Substitution/proxy
• Tejas mitigation
• Mythic psychology

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The narrative recognizes practical accommodation: when one cannot sustain a role directly, a mediated arrangement is made to preserve household continuity—though it carries later ethical complications.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita, as Chāyā becomes significant in lineage stories and the distribution of offspring in related traditions.

What is the esoteric significance?

Chāyā is the principle of ‘filtering’ radiance—an inner sheath (kośa-like) that allows engagement with intense consciousness/tejas without being burned by it.